If you’ve spotted chipmunks darting around your yard, you might wonder if they’re troublemakers. Chipmunks can definitely be destructive, especially when they dig burrows near your house, mess up your garden, or chew on wires and insulation. Sure, they look adorable, but their habits can cause some headaches for your property’s safety and curb appeal.
You’ll probably catch them digging up bulbs, swiping fruits and veggies, or poking holes in your lawn. Over time, their burrows can even mess with foundations or patios. If you know how chipmunks act, you can head off problems before they get expensive.
Do Chipmunks Cause Damage?
Chipmunks dig tunnels and burrows that can mess up your yard and home. They’ll dig up plants and bulbs, and their burrowing near buildings can harm patios or foundations.
When you know what kind of damage chipmunks cause, it’s easier to protect your place.
Typical Burrowing Behavior
Chipmunks dig burrows for shelter, storing food, and raising their young. These tunnels can stretch up to 30 feet long and go several feet deep.
You might spot more than one entrance, usually hidden under plants or piles of debris.
Their digging loosens up the soil, creating uneven ground that’s a tripping hazard. Unlike squirrels, chipmunks stay close to the ground and dig near flowerbeds or buildings.
They like quiet spots, so you’ll often find burrows near wood stacks, brush piles, or at the edge of a garden. Clearing out these areas can really cut down on chipmunk activity near your house.
Destruction to Lawns and Gardens
Chipmunks eat bulbs, seeds, and young plants, which can wreck your flowerbeds or veggie garden.
If you see holes in your lawn or notice bulbs gone missing, chipmunks might be the reason. They’re especially into fruits, nuts, and flowers when it’s spring or summer.
Their digging can mess with plant roots, which stunts growth. Try using hardware cloth or netting to keep chipmunks away from your favorite plants.
Impact on Home Structures
Chipmunks dig under patios, decks, stairs, and even foundations, which can shift the soil.
That can weaken the structure and cause cracks or drainage problems. Sometimes you’ll find burrows near vents or downspouts, where chipmunks hide out.
To keep them from causing trouble, move firewood and debris away from your home’s base. Seal any entrances with wire mesh or hardware cloth to block chipmunks from getting inside. If you want more tips, check out chipmunk damage prevention and control methods.
How to Prevent and Control Chipmunk Damage
To stop chipmunks from causing problems, focus on protecting bird feeders and plants. Use barriers to block their burrowing. It helps to know how chipmunks act compared to squirrels or rats, too.
These steps make it a lot easier to keep your home and garden safe.
Protecting Bird Feeders and Plants
Chipmunks can’t resist seeds that fall from bird feeders. Use feeders that catch loose seeds or are meant to keep rodents out.
Hanging feeders with baffles can keep chipmunks from climbing up for a snack.
Cover your plants and bulbs with hardware cloth. Pick a fine mesh—about 1/4 inch—and bury it a few inches into the dirt so chipmunks can’t dig underneath.
Clean up spilled seeds or fallen fruit around feeders and gardens often. It’s a simple way to make your yard less appealing to chipmunks.
Physical Barriers for Burrowing
Chipmunks like to dig near foundations, patios, and walkways, which can create big headaches if you ignore it.
You can protect these spots by installing galvanized hardware cloth with small mesh.
Dig a trench about 12 to 18 inches deep and bury the hardware cloth vertically. Extend it at least a foot away from the structure.
Attach it to fences or walls so chipmunks can’t squeeze through.
Cover holes around downspouts, vents, and crawl spaces with hardware cloth, too. Give these areas a quick check now and then, and patch up any damage right away.
Comparison with Squirrels and Rats
Chipmunks stand out from squirrels and rats in both their habits and the way they cause damage. Sure, all three might sneak into your home or mess with your garden, but they each have their own style.
Chipmunks usually dig burrows and munch on plants. Squirrels? They’ll raid bird feeders or snatch nuts straight from the trees.
Rats, on the other hand, tend to go for homes more aggressively. They bring bigger structural problems and health concerns than chipmunks ever would.
People often call in professionals to deal with rats because of their size and the risk of disease. Hardware cloth can stop chipmunks and squirrels pretty well, but rats sometimes get around it.
If you keep running into problems or aren’t sure what animal you’re up against, it’s probably worth checking with local wildlife control services or looking at some FAQs. That way, you can figure out the best approach and what it might cost.
