If you’ve noticed chipmunks darting around your yard, you might be wondering if you should do something about them. Honestly, the answer’s yes—but only if they’re causing trouble or attracting other pests. Chipmunks are small, not really aggressive, but their burrows can leave holes that mess up your lawn or even trip you up.
You might enjoy watching them scurry about, but if they start raiding your bird feeders, their numbers can get out of hand fast. That means more holes and maybe even some unwanted guests like yellow jackets.
Knowing when to step in and how to handle chipmunks can save you headaches later.
Should You Get Rid of Chipmunks?
Chipmunks can be both helpful and a bit of a pain around the house. Figuring out when they’re a problem—and when they’re actually doing some good—can help you decide what to do next.
Pay attention to what they’re up to in your yard, garden, or near your house.
Reasons to Remove Chipmunks
You might want to get rid of chipmunks if you spot holes popping up around your yard or garden. Their burrows can mess up your plants and make the ground uneven, which isn’t great if you’re mowing or just walking around.
Abandoned tunnels sometimes turn into little sinkholes and can draw in other pests. Empty holes have even become homes for yellow jackets, and no one wants to deal with those.
If chipmunks keep raiding your bird feeders, they’ll multiply quickly since food’s so easy to find. Before you know it, you could have even more damage and maybe even attract mice or rats.
Potential Benefits of Chipmunks
Chipmunks actually help out by eating bugs and spreading seeds around, which gives plants a boost. Their digging sometimes makes the soil better for your garden.
If you’re into birdwatching or just like seeing wildlife, chipmunks add a bit of fun to your yard. Most of the time, they’re shy and not a threat to people.
If you haven’t noticed any real damage or a huge chipmunk crowd, it might be fine to let them be. They rarely try to get inside homes or mess with your house itself.
Assessing Chipmunk Problems at Home
Take a walk around your yard and look for tunnels, missing seeds, or plants that look chewed up. Seeing a bunch of chipmunks hanging around probably means they’re multiplying.
Check for holes near your foundation or under the deck, since chipmunks sometimes nest right next to buildings. If you find these, it might be time to think about removing them to protect your property.
Keep an eye on your bird feeders, too. Cleaning up spilled seed and using humane traps can help manage chipmunk numbers without hurting them.
Humane removal is always the kinder and safer choice for your neighborhood.
Setting traps with seed near their usual eating spots works better than using peanut butter, which they might find suspicious. If you plan to relocate any chipmunks, always handle the traps gently.
For more tips on humane removal and keeping chipmunks away from bird feeders, check out this chipmunk removal guide.
Safe and Effective Ways to Get Rid of Chipmunks
You want to protect your yard, but you don’t want to harm pets or local wildlife. Using the right repellents, thinking about your pets, and knowing when to call in the pros can make chipmunk control a lot less stressful.
Natural Chipmunk Repellents
Natural repellents give you a gentle way to keep chipmunks at bay. Try spreading human hair around—your scent can make them nervous and keep them away.
Some people use predator urine, like fox or coyote, which you can find at garden stores. That scent tricks chipmunks into thinking a predator’s nearby.
Planting strong-smelling herbs such as peppermint can help, too. Skip the harsh chemicals and poisons—they can hurt other animals and your pets.
Make sure to refresh repellents every few days, especially after it rains, to keep chipmunks from coming back.
Pet Safety and Chipmunk Control
If you have pets, you’ll want to keep them safe while dealing with chipmunks. Don’t use poisons or chemicals—your cat or dog might find them.
Electronic traps for rodents aren’t a great idea if your pets could get curious and poke around.
Instead, stick to humane traps that catch chipmunks without harm. Bait them with seeds and move the chipmunks to a park or wooded spot.
Always use gloves when handling traps, just to be safe and to protect your pets from anything the chipmunks might carry.
Professional Removal Services
If chipmunks start causing real trouble, you might want to call in the pros. Wildlife removal experts know how to handle chipmunks safely and, honestly, they do it in a way that feels right.
They’ll check your yard for burrows and seal up any entry points, making it much harder for chipmunks to sneak back in. These folks use humane trapping and relocation, so you don’t have to worry about animals getting hurt.
Hiring a service makes sense if you want fast results and don’t want to risk your pets or harm local wildlife. For more tips on handling chipmunks the right way, check out this guide on the best way to remove chipmunks from your yard.
