Stumbling upon a chipmunk in your house can be a real surprise—and honestly, it might stress you out a bit. Try to stay calm and gently guide the chipmunk toward an exit, or use a humane trap to catch and release it outside. That way, you and the little critter both stay safe.
Check your home for any gaps or small openings that let the chipmunk sneak in. Seal those up so it can’t come back.
It’s a good idea to keep pets away while you deal with the chipmunk. Sometimes, wild animals carry diseases, and you don’t want your pets involved.
Let’s talk about some simple, practical steps for getting the chipmunk out and stopping future visitors. With a little patience, you’ll get through this.
Immediate Steps If You Find a Chipmunk Indoors
When a chipmunk scurries into your house, act quickly but don’t panic. Start by checking if it’s hurt or healthy.
Assess If the Chipmunk is Injured or Healthy
Look closely for any signs of injury. Is it moving around okay, or does it seem slow, bleeding, or limping?
Injured chipmunks might hide or act oddly. Don’t try to touch it—frightened chipmunks can bite or scratch.
If the chipmunk looks healthy, it probably just wants out. If you spot injuries, reach out to a wildlife rehabilitator or vet.
They’ll know what to do and help keep you safe from bites or diseases. Keep pets and kids away until you know more.
Safely Contain or Guide the Chipmunk Outside
First, move pets into another room. Shut doors to limit the chipmunk’s escape routes.
Open windows and outside doors to give it an obvious way out.
If it refuses to leave, set up a humane trap with sunflower seeds or nuts as bait. Place the trap where you’ve seen the chipmunk.
Check the trap often so it’s not stuck for long. When you catch it, release the chipmunk far from home so it doesn’t find its way back.
Don’t handle the chipmunk bare-handed. Use gloves or gently cover it with a small box if you need to move it.
When to Call Wildlife Professionals
If the chipmunk won’t budge, seems hurt, or you’re just not sure what to do, call a wildlife control expert.
They’ve got the experience and the right tools to remove chipmunks safely.
If you find more than one chipmunk indoors, that might mean you have a bigger problem with your home’s entry points.
A pro can check for damage and suggest ways to keep chipmunks out for good.
Humane Removal and Prevention Methods
If you want to get a chipmunk out of your house safely, use gentle methods to catch and move it. After you remove it, focus on keeping chipmunks from coming back.
Let’s look at how to trap chipmunks in live cages, where to move them, and how to keep your house chipmunk-free.
Live Trapping Techniques for Chipmunks
Grab a small, humane live trap made for rodents. Bait it with sunflower seeds, peanut butter, or fruit.
Put the trap where you’ve seen the chipmunk or found signs it’s been there.
Check the trap often so the chipmunk doesn’t stay inside too long. Try to stay quiet and avoid sudden noises—they scare easily.
Once you catch it, cover the trap with a cloth to help the chipmunk stay calm during the trip outside.
Live trapping gives you a way to remove chipmunks without hurting them. It’s a safe bet for everyone.
Relocation Guidelines and Legal Considerations
Before you release the chipmunk, check your local laws. Some places restrict moving wildlife off your property.
If it’s allowed, release chipmunks at least a mile from home so they don’t come back.
Pick a spot with plenty of brush or woods—somewhere they can find food and shelter.
Stay away from busy roads and open fields.
Handle the trap gently. When you let the chipmunk go, open the trap quietly and step back so it can run off on its own.
Don’t release it on someone else’s property.
Following the rules keeps you out of trouble and helps protect your local wildlife.
Steps for Long-Term Chipmunk Control
Check your home’s foundation, walls, and the spaces around vents for any gaps, holes, or cracks. I’d grab some wire mesh or caulk to seal up smaller openings. Make sure you keep doors and windows closed tight or at least screened, since chipmunks can squeeze through surprisingly tiny spaces.
Try to get rid of food sources like birdseed, fallen fruit, or pet food in your yard. Chipmunks love clutter, so it helps to clear away leaf piles and brush where they might hide.
If you’re into gardening, you could plant some chipmunk-resistant plants. Spraying hot pepper around the garden edges might help too, or you can set up barriers like hardware cloth around your garden beds.
Take a walk around your yard and house every so often to look for new chipmunk signs. If you spot anything early, you’ll have a better shot at stopping damage before it gets out of hand.
