Chipmunks might look adorable, but honestly, they can do some real damage to your home and garden. These little critters dig burrows that mess with your foundation, tear up lawns, and wreck your plants.
Their tunnels might seem like no big deal at first. But after a while, they can cause expensive repairs and even safety problems.
Your garden’s especially at risk because chipmunks love digging up bulbs and munching on fruits and veggies. If they get inside your garage or attic, they’ll chew on wires or insulation too.
Noticed small holes in your lawn or missing tomatoes? Yeah, chipmunks could be the culprits.
If you know what kind of trouble chipmunks cause, you can do a better job protecting your property. Spotting the signs early gives you a chance to fix things before they spiral.
Key Types of Damage Caused by Chipmunks
Chipmunks damage different parts of your property in their own sneaky ways. They dig tunnels, chew on plants, and sometimes even sneak inside your house.
Knowing what to watch for makes it easier to catch problems sooner.
Foundation and Structural Risks
Chipmunks dig long burrows right next to your home’s foundation. These tunnels shift or wash away soil, which weakens the ground under your house.
Over time, you might see cracks or even settling. Not exactly what you want.
Their digging lets water get into your foundation or basement walls. That water can cause mold, water damage, and weaken your structure.
Keep an eye on spots near patios, retaining walls, and sidewalks—chipmunks love burrowing there.
If you get rid of chipmunks or block them out early, you lower the risk of expensive foundation repairs.
Lawn, Garden, and Landscape Destruction
In your yard, chipmunks dig up soil to make nests and hide food. This often uproots flowers, bulbs, and seedlings.
They’ll eat birdseed, veggies, and grass seed, which damages your plants and slows things down in the garden.
You might spot little patches of dug-up dirt or missing plants near your shrubs. Chipmunks usually stick to areas with cover, like bushes or piles of wood, where they can stash their food.
If chipmunks hang around, your landscaping problems might just keep coming back.
Physical barriers or removing food sources can help keep your garden safe.
Indoor Damage and Contamination
Chipmunks sneak into buildings through gaps in dryer vents, siding, or roof lines. Once inside, they chew on wires, insulation, and wood.
This chewing can cause fire hazards or mess up your electrical system. Not great.
They also bring in dirt, droppings, and food, which leads to contamination and some pretty nasty smells.
Even though they try to avoid people, chipmunks inside your home are just a headache.
Seal up entry points and keep pet food or seeds in rodent-proof containers. That way, you can keep them out and avoid more damage.
For more details on chipmunk damage to structures, check out chipmunk damage identification at the Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management.
Prevention and Professional Control Solutions
You can start managing chipmunk damage with some simple steps around your home and garden. Sometimes, though, you’ll need a pro to handle it for good.
DIY Prevention Tips
First, get rid of stuff chipmunks use for shelter—like wood piles, mulch, or thick ground cover near your house. Seal up any gaps or holes around your foundation using metal mesh or hardware cloth.
Use bird feeders that catch fallen seeds to cut down on easy meals for chipmunks. Lock up garbage cans and compost bins tight.
Cover flower beds and bulbs with ¼-inch mesh to keep them safe. Repellents like predator urine or capsaicin can work, but you’ll have to reapply them a lot to notice any difference.
If you see chipmunks often, try trapping them. Set small cage traps with peanut butter or sunflower seeds near their burrows or along their usual paths.
When to Seek Wildlife or Pest Control Help
If you’re dealing with serious damage or chipmunks just keep coming back, it’s probably time to call professional wildlife control. These experts use humane trapping and exclusion methods that fit your situation.
They know how to get into tricky spots where DIY fixes just don’t cut it—think inside walls or those weird, hard-to-seal gaps. Plus, they actually follow the laws that protect chipmunks while still protecting your home.
Pest control pros can offer solutions that last and give advice on changing up your yard or garden to keep critters away. If chipmunks are wrecking your garden or causing damage you can’t manage, bringing in a pro really can solve the problem safely.
For more detailed methods, check out guides on chipmunk removal and damage prevention.
