How to Get Rid of Chipmunks Without Losing Your Mind (Or Your Garden)

Chipmunks might look adorable in Disney movies, but when they're excavating a network of tunnels under your prized perennials or treating your tomato plants like an all-you-can-eat buffet, the charm wears off pretty quickly. Last summer, I watched helplessly as a particularly industrious chipmunk systematically harvested every single strawberry from my patch—green ones included—stuffing those ridiculous cheek pouches until he looked like a furry tennis ball with legs. That's when I knew something had to change.

Understanding Your Striped Adversary

Before launching into battle mode, it helps to understand what you're dealing with. Eastern chipmunks (Tamias striatus) aren't just random vandals—they're survival machines operating on pure instinct. These little engineers can create burrow systems extending 30 feet underground, complete with separate chambers for sleeping, food storage, and waste. Pretty impressive for something that weighs less than your smartphone.

The real kicker? A single chipmunk can gather up to 8 pounds of food in their burrows. That's roughly 160 times their body weight. Imagine if humans hoarded food proportionally—we'd each have a warehouse full of groceries.

What draws them to your property isn't personal. They're looking for three things: food, shelter, and safety from predators. Your bird feeder is basically a chipmunk buffet. Those decorative rock walls? Perfect condo complexes. And that thick ground cover you planted for erosion control? It's their version of a gated community.

The Humane Eviction Process

Let me be clear about something—I'm not advocating for a chipmunk massacre. These creatures play a legitimate role in the ecosystem, spreading seeds and aerating soil. The goal is relocation, not elimination.

Making Your Yard Less Appealing

The most effective long-term solution involves making your property about as attractive to chipmunks as a tax audit. Start with the bird feeders. I know, I know—you love watching the cardinals. But those scattered seeds are like leaving out a neon "Free Food" sign. Switch to feeders with catch trays, or better yet, opt for safflower seeds. Birds love them; chipmunks find them bitter.

Remove brush piles and wood stacks near your house. I learned this the hard way when I discovered an entire chipmunk commune living in my neatly stacked firewood. Now I keep wood elevated on racks at least 20 feet from any structure. Yes, it's less convenient for winter fires, but it beats having chipmunks in your walls.

Ground cover needs attention too. Chipmunks adore dense plantings where they can move unseen. Consider replacing some of that pachysandra with gravel mulch or open lawn areas. They hate exposed spaces—makes them nervous about hawks.

Physical Barriers That Actually Work

Hardware cloth is your new best friend. This isn't your grandmother's chicken wire—we're talking quarter-inch galvanized mesh that chipmunks can't squeeze through. I've had success creating underground barriers around garden beds by digging trenches 12 inches deep and installing L-shaped hardware cloth fences. The horizontal portion extends outward underground, preventing tunneling.

For individual plants, especially bulbs, plant them in hardware cloth cages. It's tedious work, but after losing $200 worth of tulip bulbs one winter, the effort seems worthwhile. Some gardeners swear by crushed oyster shells mixed into the planting hole—apparently, chipmunks dislike the sharp edges.

Natural Deterrents and Repellents

Here's where things get interesting—and slightly controversial. The internet is full of miracle repellents, most of which work about as well as a chocolate teapot. However, I've found a few approaches that show promise.

Predator urine (fox or coyote) can be effective, but it needs constant reapplication and smells exactly like what you'd expect. Your neighbors might start giving you strange looks. I tried it once and my mail carrier started leaving packages at the end of the driveway.

Hot pepper-based sprays work temporarily. Chipmunks learn quickly though, and some seem to develop a taste for spicy food. I've watched them eat treated sunflower seeds while practically sweating, determined to get their prize.

What actually surprised me was the effectiveness of used cat litter (from a healthy cat only, please). Scattered around burrow entrances, it sends a clear "predator nearby" message. Just don't use this method in vegetable gardens for obvious hygiene reasons.

The Trapping Dilemma

Live trapping seems humane until you realize chipmunks have strong homing instincts. Relocating them less than 5 miles away means they'll probably beat you back home. Plus, in many states, relocating wildlife is illegal without permits.

If you do trap, use a Havahart-style cage with peanut butter and sunflower seeds as bait. Place it along their regular routes—usually against walls or fences. Cover the trap partially with a cloth to make it feel more secure. Once caught, check local regulations about relocation. Some areas require euthanization, which brings us back to prevention being the best approach.

When Professional Help Makes Sense

Sometimes, despite your best efforts, the situation escalates beyond DIY solutions. I once dealt with a property where chipmunks had undermined a retaining wall, causing thousands in damage. That's when you call in wildlife control professionals.

Look for companies certified by the National Wildlife Control Operators Association. They have access to methods and materials not available to homeowners, plus the expertise to identify and seal entry points you might miss. Yes, it's expensive—expect $300-500 for an initial visit—but it's cheaper than foundation repairs.

Living in Détente

After years of battling chipmunks, I've reached an uneasy peace. They can have the back corner of the property where the oak trees drop acorns. In exchange, they (mostly) leave my garden alone. I've learned to plant extra—some for me, some for them.

The truth is, complete elimination isn't realistic unless you're willing to turn your yard into Fort Knox. Instead, focus on protecting what matters most. Use multiple strategies simultaneously. And maybe, just maybe, learn to appreciate the entertainment value of watching a chipmunk try to stuff one more acorn into already-bulging cheeks.

Remember, these little guys were here first. We're the ones who moved into their neighborhood and started planting irresistible buffets. A little understanding goes a long way toward peaceful coexistence. Though I still haven't forgiven that one chipmunk for the strawberry incident.

Authoritative Sources:

Kurta, Allen. Mammals of the Great Lakes Region. 3rd ed., University of Michigan Press, 2017.

Merritt, Joseph F., editor. Guide to the Mammals of Pennsylvania. University of Pittsburgh Press, 1987.

"Chipmunks." Penn State Extension, Pennsylvania State University, extension.psu.edu/chipmunks.

"Wildlife Damage Management: Eastern Chipmunks." University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, extensionpublications.unl.edu/assets/pdf/g1817.pdf.

Yahner, Richard H. Wildlife Behavior and Conservation. Springer, 2012.