If you’ve spotted small holes popping up in your yard or garden, you might have chipmunks moving in. These little guys leave behind some pretty obvious clues—tiny burrow entrances, those funny galloping tracks, and sometimes a high-pitched chirping that almost sounds like birds.
The most common warning signs of chipmunks are 1-2 inch holes in the ground, small footprints with four front toes and five back toes, and a high-pitched chirp that’s easy to mistake for birdsong.
You might also notice plants looking a bit worse for wear or bulbs that have been dug up. Chipmunks love to dig for food underground, so they often leave a mess behind.
Sometimes, you’ll spot droppings about the size of a grain of rice near burrows or food sources. If you pay attention to these little clues, you can catch chipmunk activity early and hopefully save your yard from bigger problems.
Key Warning Signs of Chipmunk Presence
You’ll usually spot chipmunks by checking for a few telltale things around your yard. Look for small holes, plant damage, and those odd sounds during the day.
If you catch these signs early, you can figure out if you’ve just got a couple of chipmunks or a bigger problem on your hands.
Distinctive Burrow Entrances
Burrow entrances are probably the easiest sign to find. Chipmunks dig small, tidy holes about 2 inches wide.
You won’t see big piles of dirt like with moles—chipmunks keep things neat. Check near your foundation, along sidewalks, or under decks for these holes.
Their tunnels can run pretty deep and long, sometimes up to 30 feet with different rooms inside. If you spot a bunch of holes close together, you likely have several chipmunks living nearby.
These tunnels can even weaken patios or walkways if they get too close. That’s not something you want to ignore.
Unusual Garden or Plant Damage
If your garden suddenly looks like it’s been raided, chipmunks might be to blame. They love digging up flower bulbs and snacking on fruits, veggies, seeds, and nuts.
You might find plants pulled out of the ground or leaves and fruit with bites taken out of them. It’s a little frustrating, honestly.
Chipmunks sometimes chew on things like irrigation lines or even outdoor furniture. That damage can get expensive to fix.
Noticing these issues early gives you a better shot at stopping a chipmunk problem before it gets out of hand.
Noisy Chirping and Daytime Activity
Chipmunks stay busy during the day and make a sharp, high-pitched chirp. If you hear quick, squeaky chirps in the morning or late afternoon, you might have chipmunks hanging around.
They don’t really hide at night like some other rodents. If you keep hearing these sounds or see chipmunks running around during the day, there’s probably more than one.
Seeing several chipmunks at once or hearing them a lot might mean you’re dealing with a bigger group.
What to Do If You Spot Chipmunk Activity
If you notice chipmunks around your place, don’t wait too long to act. You’ll want to block their access, pick a good repellent, and remove them as safely as you can.
Taking these steps helps protect your garden and property from more damage.
Seal Entry Points Effectively
Start by checking your home and yard for small holes or gaps. Chipmunk burrows usually have openings about 1-2 inches wide, often near foundations, patios, or garden beds.
Look for these holes around concrete edges and baseboards. Use tough materials like steel mesh or hardware cloth to seal them up.
Avoid using rubber or plastic—chipmunks can chew right through those. Make sure you close off all the gaps you can find.
Check spots like vents, eaves, and wall joints too. Fix any damaged screens and seal up cracks in your foundation.
If you do this thoroughly, you’ll make it a lot harder for chipmunks to get in.
Choosing the Best Chipmunk Repellent
Repellents can help keep chipmunks away from your yard. Some folks use predator scents, garlic sprays, or hot pepper mixes to make things unpleasant for chipmunks.
You can also try commercial repellents, but always read the label first to keep pets and plants safe. Spray repellents near garden beds, chipmunk holes, and places they like to eat.
Repellents work best as part of a bigger plan. Reapply after it rains or when you water your garden, or they’ll wear off.
They might not solve a big infestation, but they can help for a while if you just need to keep chipmunks at bay.
Safe Chipmunk Control and Removal Options
If you want to control chipmunks safely, start with live traps. Place them right along chipmunk trails or near their burrows.
Bait the traps with sunflower seeds or nuts—chipmunks love those. Check the traps often so you can release any captured chipmunks far from your house.
Skip the poison or harsh chemicals, especially if you’ve got pets or kids running around. Instead, call a professional wildlife control service if you want someone else to handle humane removal and exclusion.
Try to keep your yard tidy to cut down on chipmunk food and shelter. Clean up fallen seeds, use baffles on your bird feeders, and keep your grass nice and short.
These small changes can make your place way less inviting to chipmunks, and they’re pretty simple to pull off.
If you want to dig deeper into sealing up and managing chipmunk issues, check out the chipmunk control and removal pages at Critter Control and Wildlife X Team.
