Have you noticed small, striped rodents scurrying around your yard, digging holes, and nibbling on your garden plants? You’re not alone. Chipmunk infestations are a common problem for many homeowners and gardeners. These tiny creatures, though adorable, can cause significant damage to your property if not managed properly.

In this blog post, we will explore the behavior and habitats of chipmunks, identify signs of an infestation, understand the potential impacts, and provide effective prevention and control methods. By the end, you’ll be equipped with the knowledge to protect your home and garden from these mischievous critters.

Overview of Common Chipmunk Species

There are 25 species of chipmunks, but the ones most often found in residential areas are the Eastern chipmunk and the Least chipmunk. The Eastern chipmunk is the larger of the two, measuring about 5 to 6 inches long (excluding the tail) and sporting a reddish-brown coat with distinctive black and white stripes running down its back. The Least chipmunk is smaller, with a slenderer build and darker stripes. Understanding which species that you are dealing with is the first step in successfully managing an infestation.

Habits, Diet, and Nesting Preferences

Chipmunks are diurnal, meaning they are active during the day. They are omnivorous and have a varied diet that includes seeds, nuts, fruits, berries, and insects. In the wild, they store food in their burrows to prepare for the winter months. These burrows, often located near tree roots or rock piles, can be extensive, with multiple chambers for sleeping, storing food, and rearing young.

However, when chipmunks venture into residential areas, they may create burrows under patios, sidewalks, and even house foundations. Their constant need to forage and store food can lead them into gardens and homes, where they can become a nuisance.

Beneficial and Problematic Roles

While chipmunks play a crucial role in ecosystems by dispersing seeds and aerating soil through their burrowing activities, they can also cause significant problems for homeowners. Their burrowing can damage lawns, gardens, and even structural foundations. Understanding their dual role helps us appreciate their place in nature while recognizing the need for control in residential settings.

Signs of a Chipmunk Infestation

Spotting a chipmunk or two in your yard isn’t necessarily a cause for alarm, but several signs indicate a more serious infestation. Look for:

Small holes (about the size of a quarter) in your lawn or garden beds.
Burrow openings near foundations, patios, or walkways.
Chewed plant stems or bulbs.
Droppings resembling small, dark pellets.

Distinguishing Chipmunk Activity

It’s essential to differentiate chipmunk activity from other pests like moles, voles, or mice. Chipmunk burrows typically have clean entrances without surrounding dirt mounds, unlike molehills. Observing their activity patterns—daytime for chipmunks versus nocturnal for many other rodents—can also help in identification.

The Impact of Chipmunk Infestations

Damage to Gardens and Structures

Chipmunks’ burrowing can undermine garden walls, patios, and house foundations, leading to structural damage over time. Their digging in flower beds and vegetable gardens can uproot plants and destroy root systems. Additionally, they may chew on garden hoses, irrigation systems, and even electrical wiring, creating hazards and requiring costly repairs.

Health Risks

While chipmunks are generally not aggressive, they can carry diseases like leptospirosis, salmonella, and hantavirus, which can be transmitted to humans through direct contact or indirectly through contaminated water or soil. They may also harbor fleas, ticks, and mites, posing additional health risks to pets and people.

Chipmunk Proofing and Prevention Methods

Landscaping and Yard Maintenance

To make your property less inviting to chipmunks, consider the following tips:

Keep your lawn mowed and free of debris.
Trim tree branches and shrubs to reduce cover.
Use mulch or gravel around plant beds to deter digging.
Remove food sources like birdseed, fallen fruit, and pet food.

Sealing Entry Points

Inspect your home and garage for potential entry points and seal any gaps or cracks. Use metal mesh or hardware cloth to cover vents, chimneys, and other openings. Ensure that doors and windows close tightly and repair any damaged screens.

Chipmunk Removal and Control

Humanely Deterring Chipmunks

There are several humane methods to deter chipmunks from your property. Motion-activated sprinklers, ultrasonic repellers, and natural repellents like cayenne pepper or garlic spray can be effective. Additionally, planting certain deterrent plants like daffodils, marigolds, or garlic chives can help keep chipmunks at bay.

Common Chipmunk Removal Methods

Live trapping is a popular method for removing chipmunks. Small animal traps are baited with peanut butter, sunflower seeds, or fruit. They are strategically placed near burrow entrances or along known pathways. Once captured, they are relocated far away from your property to prevent their return. Live trapping should only be carried out by licensed wildlife removal operators.

Professional Wildlife Control Services

If you have a severe infestation or prefer not to handle the removal yourself, consider hiring a professional wildlife control service. These experts can assess the situation, implement effective control measures, and provide advice on preventing future infestations.

Conclusion

Chipmunks, while charming, can become problematic when they invade our gardens and homes. By understanding their behavior and habits, recognizing signs of infestation, and implementing effective prevention and control methods, you can protect your property from damage and health risks. Taking proactive measures will help you enjoy a chipmunk-free environment, preserving the beauty and integrity of your garden and home.

Are chipmunks too much of a problem around your home or property? Contact Smoky Wildlife Control at 615-610-0962 for TWRA licensed and insured commercial chipmunk removal and control in Nashville, Tennessee and beyond. We also work with many other types of wildlife, including squirrels, and serve both residential and commercial clients.

Chipmunks are certainly cute and funny, but they have a lot more to offer! Learning all about chipmunks is fun because it gives you a greater appreciation for them, plus helps you understand their behaviors. As for property owners and residents, knowing more about chipmunks can give you an advantage when typing to stop them from pillaging your gardens and flowerbeds!

Continue below to review some of the most enlightening, educational facts about chipmunks, and where to get humane critter control assistance for chipmunks in Nashville, Tennessee, and its surrounding counties.

Chipmunk Critter Control Nashville Tennessee 615-610-0962

Chipmunks Come With a Warning Attached

Although you may have already gathered the fact from Alvin, Simon, and Theodore, chipmunks are really cool critters! Adorned with racecar-like stripes, bushy tails, and chubby cheeks, chipmunks are one of the most beloved animals among nature lovers. They are fast, curious, and mission-oriented, making them an entertaining species all year long.

Now, unlike the stars on the big screen, real-life chipmunks should only be admired from a distance. If they get too close, they can become a threat to your lawn, garden, flowerbeds, and even your house. They can’t help themselves, it’s just in their nature! But with smart and humane abatement strategies, you can protect your property from nuisance wildlife tampering, while also enjoying the presence of your neighborhood chipmunks, year-round.

What You Want to Know About Chipmunks

🐿 What They Are

Chipmunks are not squirrels, but they are part of the same family, known as Sciuridae. In fact, the word chipmunk is derived from the native Odawa word, “jidmoonh”, meaning red squirrel. Both chipmunks and squirrels are rodents, as they are part of the Rodentia Order. Here is the full scientific classification breakdown:

↣ Kingdom: Animalia
↣ Phylum: Chordata
↣ Class: Mammalia
↣ Order: Rodentia
↣ Family: Sciuridae
↣ Subfamily: Xerinae

There are more than 25 species of chipmunks worldwide, but only one species does not exist in North America. That is the Siberian Chipmunk.

🐿 What They Do

Chipmunks build underground burrows that can be quite extensive. There, they hoard all of their seasonal findings. They hibernate in the winter, relying on their hoards when food is scare and the climate is cold.

Although they do not break into song like their famous counterparts, they do make some pretty cute sounds. Chipmunks squeak, chirp, and chitter-chatter to one another, communicating about possible threat and predators.

Chipmunks are solitary animals as adults. They traverse alone and do not bother one another when they are out of their burrows. However, chipmunks interact with one another during mating season. Come early April, chipmunks are ready to reproduce.

Chipmunk gestation is an average of 30 days, so babes are typically born between May and June. Mothers birth between 2 and 6 babies between May and June but can deliver up to 8! Baby chipmunks are called pups, kittens, or kits, and they rely on mother’s milk for the first 60 days of their lives! Although chipmunks usually only birth one litter, they will deliver a second if the first is lost.

🐿 What They Eat

Chipmunks are omnivores, which means they eat both plants and meat. The most common elements of their diet include nuts like hazelnuts and acorns, as well as grass, shoots, and general plant matter. Sometimes, chipmunks are known to eat worms, small frogs, bird eggs, and in rare cases, a baby bird.

Chipmunks have roomy cheek pouches that are similar to a hamster. These special cheek pouches let chipmunks stuff their mouths full of delicious findings and carry them back to their burrows for safe-keeping.

Do you have a nuisance chipmunk problem on your property? Contact Smoky Wildlife Control at 615-610-0962 for prompt and professional chipmunk removal and control in Nashville, Tennessee. We serve both residential and commercial clients.

Smoky Wildlife Control

Free Animal Removal Estimates 615-610-0962

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Chipmunk Control: Understanding and Overcoming Infestations