If you are asking if it is legal to kill chipmunks in Minnesota, the answer is that it can be legal in some situations, but you still need to follow Minnesota wildlife rules, local ordinances, and any limits on the method you use.
Chipmunks are not singled out by name in the main damage-taking statute, so your legal options depend on whether the animal is treated as nuisance wildlife on your property and whether any local rules apply.
The safest approach is to check both Minnesota DNR guidance and your city or township rules before you take any action.
A chipmunk problem in a yard is not the same as having unrestricted permission to kill wildlife.
If you act without checking, you could run into rules about live trapping, protected species, or discharge restrictions in urban areas.
What Minnesota Law Says About Chipmunks
Minnesota’s damage-taking law, section 97B.655, gives property owners and occupants some authority to deal with wild animals that are causing damage.
Chipmunks are not specifically listed in that statute, so you should not assume the law gives you a blanket right to kill them in every situation.
Chipmunks Are Not Specifically Listed In Minnesota Statute 97B.655
The statute lists several animals that a landowner, manager, or occupant may take when they are causing damage.
Chipmunks do not appear in that list, so your situation may fall under broader wildlife rules rather than a simple named-animal exception.
How Minnesota Defines Taking Wild Animals
Minnesota DNR explains that “taking” includes pursuing, shooting, killing, capturing, trapping, snaring, angling, spearing, or netting wild animals, along with trying to do those things or helping someone else do them.
That broad definition matters because your method, not just your goal, can affect whether your actions are lawful.
When A Special Permit May Be Needed
For protected wild animals causing property damage, the commissioner may issue special permits under section 97A.401, subdivision 5, as reflected in Minnesota Statutes section 97B.655.
If you are dealing with a species that is not clearly covered by the damage-taking rules, or if the animal is protected in your area, a permit may be the safer path.
What Property Owners Can And Cannot Assume
A chipmunk digging in your garden may seem like a nuisance animal problem, but that label does not automatically give you unlimited control.
Your location, the method you choose, and local wildlife rules can all change what you are allowed to do.
Why A Nuisance Animal Label Does Not Automatically Grant Permission
Minnesota DNR describes nuisance animals as wild animals that cause property damage, but that definition alone does not erase every legal restriction.
Even if the chipmunk is damaging your plants or landscaping, you still need to stay within state and local rules.
How Local Ordinances Can Limit Your Options
Many urban areas and local ordinances restrict how you can handle wild animals.
The DNR notes that you may be limited to live trapping in those places.
Your city, township, or homeowners’ rules can narrow your choices even when state law seems permissive.
Why Live Trapping Rules Matter In Cities And Suburbs
Live trapping is often treated differently from lethal control, especially in neighborhoods where discharge of firearms or other methods is restricted.
Minnesota DNR also notes that if you relocate a captured wild animal, you should move it 10 to 15 miles away and get permission before releasing it on someone else’s property.
The trap itself is only part of the legal picture.
Related Minnesota Wildlife Rules That Affect Your Decision
Other Minnesota wildlife rules can shape what you do next, even when chipmunks are not the main focus of the statute.
Trap tagging, damage rules for other species, and DNR contact requirements all show how careful Minnesota expects you to be.
Trap Tagging Requirements For Agents Under Section 97B.928
Section 97B.655 requires agents of the landowner or occupant to tag traps as required under section 97B.928.
If you hire someone to handle wildlife on your property, that tagging rule may apply to the equipment they use.
Beaver Damage Rules Under Section 97B.665
Minnesota’s damage-control rules also point to section 97B.665 for beaver dam removal or destruction when beavers are causing damage.
While that rule is about beavers, not chipmunks, it shows that Minnesota often treats different animals differently, so you should not assume one wildlife rule covers every species.
When To Contact The Minnesota DNR Or A Conservation Officer
If you are unsure whether your chipmunk problem falls within a lawful exception, contact the Minnesota DNR or a Conservation Officer before acting.
The DNR says you must notify a Conservation Officer within 24 hours when you take a protected nuisance animal. Getting guidance first can help you avoid a reporting problem later.
