Chipmunks - Ask Extension
How do you deter chipmunks? If I trap and relocate them where do I relocate them? Oak Openings?
Knowledgebase
Chipmunks #878763
Asked July 25, 2024, 3:15 PM EDT
How do you deter chipmunks? If I trap and relocate them where do I relocate them? Oak Openings?
Lucas County Ohio
Expert Response
Hi Joan, here is a source for dealing with animals in the garden:
https://u.osu.edu/wildside/2020/06/22/dealing-with-wildlife-conflict-in-the-garden/
Here is one just for chipmunks: https://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?number=C910&title=chipmunk-control
OK that is a lot to read.
Repellents are usually not very effective as they are rather gregarious if that is a good word for them. The chipmunk article suggests using rat traps and peanut butter. That would be hard to do as you would have to check the traps daily and dispatch the remains.
If you intend to use the hav a hart traps, please be aware that it is against the law to transport the animals to some other location that you don't own. Rabies is the problem (racoon and other large mammals) and chipmunks are mammals as well and would therefore not be allowed to be transported and spread possible rabies to other locations. You can use a large garbage can with it clear full of water to drown the caught animal since that is about the only other alternative. I would definitely not suggest taking live animals to a new territory and dumping them out as they would probably not live anyway.
I'm sorry that I can't suggest something else. We had a female cat with several kittens and she fed them a chipmunk each day until we found her and started feeding her some cat food. Sure reduced the population of chipmunks though. She was very good at it and taught the young kittens what to do.
I hope this helps. Don
https://u.osu.edu/wildside/2020/06/22/dealing-with-wildlife-conflict-in-the-garden/
Here is one just for chipmunks: https://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?number=C910&title=chipmunk-control
OK that is a lot to read.
Repellents are usually not very effective as they are rather gregarious if that is a good word for them. The chipmunk article suggests using rat traps and peanut butter. That would be hard to do as you would have to check the traps daily and dispatch the remains.
If you intend to use the hav a hart traps, please be aware that it is against the law to transport the animals to some other location that you don't own. Rabies is the problem (racoon and other large mammals) and chipmunks are mammals as well and would therefore not be allowed to be transported and spread possible rabies to other locations. You can use a large garbage can with it clear full of water to drown the caught animal since that is about the only other alternative. I would definitely not suggest taking live animals to a new territory and dumping them out as they would probably not live anyway.
I'm sorry that I can't suggest something else. We had a female cat with several kittens and she fed them a chipmunk each day until we found her and started feeding her some cat food. Sure reduced the population of chipmunks though. She was very good at it and taught the young kittens what to do.
I hope this helps. Don
