Here are some signs to look out for:
- Ruined gardens. These adorable invaders will chew up your vegetables, fruits, and plants if you have a garden. ...
- Small holes in the lawn. Chipmunks can cause structural damage to your property since they often burrow near the foundation of your home, stairs, and porches and along a pathway or driveway.
- You can find hidden caches of seeds and grains. ...
- Holes ate out of low-hanging vegetables. ...
Can Chipmunks damage structural damage?
Although the normal complaints about chipmunks include their destructive habits of digging up and eating flower bulbs, seeds or seedlings, and digging up yards and gardens; if their populations are large enough, they can also cause structural damage by burrowing under patios, stairs, retention walls or foundations.
What do chipmunks do?
Chipmunks are small, ground-dwelling members of the squirrel (Sciuridae) family known for their burrowing habits and love of nuts. Despite their size, chipmunks can cause significant damage to homes, yards, and farms. Below, learn important information about chipmunks, including general facts and how to identify chipmunk damage.
Why do Chipmunks burrow in my yard?
If chipmunk burrows are threatening your home, the chipmunks are probably overpopulated. If chipmunks have become a nuisance, contact your local agricultural extension agent. If burrows are extensive enough to damage your house, they are probably overpopulated for the habitat. Chipmunks will venture into your yard to eat spilled birdseed.
How can you tell if a chipmunk is in your garden?
Clumps of sunflower and corn sprouts in the yard or garden beds, or in flower pots. Bulbs that have been uprooted. Piles or caches of seed and grain in slightly hidden spots. During hot and dry spells, holes eaten out of low hanging vegetables, especially tomatoes is a sign a chipmunk has been getting drinking water out of your garden.
What does chipmunk damage look like?
Small holes in lawns and trails, usually near the foundation of the home, in the middle of a path or walkway, and along edging (this can damage paving and foundations). Clumps of sunflower and corn sprouts in the yard or garden beds, or in flower pots. Bulbs that have been uprooted.
Why are chipmunks a problem?
Chipmunks can be a pest because they can cause damage due to their burrowing activities. They can cause structural damage to decks, patios, foundational walls, retention walls, and slabs. Chipmunks can also carry fleas to and from your yard.
How do chipmunks ruin your foundation?
Damage to Structures When chipmunks are present in large numbers they can cause structural damage by burrowing under patios, stairs, retention walls, and foundations. Their burrows can damage pool liners. The act of digging may undermine retaining walls and cause collapse.
Can chipmunks hurt humans?
Chipmunks are not known to be aggressive. In general, they will scurry away if they have the chance to bite you. But if the chipmunk feels threatened or trapped, then it may bite. If not treated correctly, these wounds become infected and lead to tissue damage.
Should I get rid of chipmunks?
Taking advantage of that misconception, some wildlife control businesses will trap and kill chipmunks for a fee. But this isn't necessary. If you have chipmunks in your yard, enjoy them. The pleasure they can give will outweigh any problems they may cause.
Will a chipmunk bite you?
Do Chipmunks Bite? While all wild animals are capable of biting when threatened, chipmunks are rarely aggressive and will most often run away from threats. When cornered or handled, however, they may scratch or bite to defend themselves.
Should you fill in chipmunk holes?
If you have chipmunk holes in your yard, filling them in with soil is a quick, easy fix. If you want to be sure that chipmunks don't burrow in the same holes again, fill them in with gravel or sand, and top them off with some topsoil or turf. You can also use concrete to permanently seal off chipmunk holes.
Can I pour bleach down a chipmunk hole?
Just make sure not to pour liquid, chemicals, or mothballs into chipmunk burrows. These methods are dangerous and ineffective. How Do You Identify Chipmunk Holes?
Can chipmunks chew through concrete?
You don't mention where the hole is being chewed so it's hard for me to narrow down the options. Over the years I've seen rats, mice, raccoon, opossum, shrews, voles, moles, chipmunks, ground hogs, muskrat, otter and skunk chew through cement or forms thereof.
Is chipmunk poop toxic?
4. Chipmunk Droppings. While chipmunks are not a super common pest to infest homes, they can be quite a nuisance when they do. Their droppings look similar to mouse feces and are equally as toxic to humans.
How do I rid my yard of chipmunks?
Here's how to get rid of chipmunks in and around your house.Get rid of the bird feeder. ... Prune and clean up trees and bushes. ... Install an L-shaped footer under a patio, deck or walkway. ... Remove wood piles. ... Plant bulbs inside wire cages. ... Trap and remove them humanely. ... Try a rodent repellent.
Can a chipmunk hurt a dog?
Chipmunks can't do much harm on a direct basis, but they can sometimes carry nasty diseases. Should your pet be exposed to a sick chipmunk, it could be very bad indeed. Also, chipmunks do tend to bite when cornered.
What are chipmunks good for?
When chipmunks feed on plants and fungi, they help disperse the seeds of these organisms. Burrowing by chipmunks also may help aerate and recycle soil. Chipmunks are most active in the early morning and late afternoon.
Is chipmunk poop toxic?
4. Chipmunk Droppings. While chipmunks are not a super common pest to infest homes, they can be quite a nuisance when they do. Their droppings look similar to mouse feces and are equally as toxic to humans.
What disease do chipmunks carry?
Common chipmunk diseases include leptospirosis, salmonella, Hantavirus, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, encephalitis, rabies, and the plague. Some of these are spread directly through contact with the pests, their feces, or their urine, while others are transmitted indirectly via ticks and fleas.
How do you keep chipmunks away?
Add some spice: Sprinkling cayenne, chili powder or other hot, intense spices around your garden is a non-toxic way to discourage chipmunks from hanging around. Gardeners also report success deterring chipmunks with a generous sprinkling of medicated powder.
Do Chipmunks Dig Tunnels in Yards?
So, chipmunks do dig tunnels in yards, it is however quite difficult for a homeowner to find these burrows.
What Damage Can Chipmunks Cause to Your Property?
Despite their innocent looks, these nuisance pests are capable of doing damage to your home and yard. They will leave signs of their presence in two ways:
Can Chipmunks Ruin Your House Foundation?
The burrowing activities of chipmunks can be a big problem for your house foundation and landscape structures. These pests can cause a lot of damage with their extensive nest burrows and can undermine a whole part of the foundation causing a drop over time.
How do chipmunks make a den?
To create such a den, the chipmunk will remove a huge amount of soil from around and underneath your house! It will then remove all the soil excavated from digging the tunnels, carry it in the cheek pouches, and scatter it away from the burrow hole. This will effectively camouflage the entrance to the den.
How deep do chipmunks burrow?
Chipmunk’s burrow excavations can be huge. The main tunnel can extend 2 to 3 feet deep under the ground and reach 20 to 30 feet in length. The tunnels within the burrow system vary in width and may run alongside extensive tree roots. The chipmunk is also continuously expanding its burrow system each year.
How far do squid burrows travel?
The burrow is their home base from which they rarely travel more than a third of a mile.
What happens when water burrows into a house?
Burrowing and the subsequent influx of water loosens soil beneath a structure, and the excavated space underneath will cause the integrity of the structure to weaken. It will result in cracking and, eventually, collapsing of the unsupported slab. Water may even appear inside your house.
What to do if a chipmunk is in your attic?
Contact a professional pest control company. In the event that a chipmunk does take up residence in your attic, be aware that they are rodents that do not stop chewing. One thing they may chew on is electrical wires within your attic or wall voids. This activity has been known to spark fires.
What is the sound coming from the attic?
While the sounds coming from your attic may truly be a chipmunks, it is just as likely to be a mouse or rat . No matter what rodent or animal pest you encounter, it should be taken care of promptly before irreparable damages can be done. And any kind of pest animal in a home is a signal that there are entry points in the home ...
How to prevent rodents from entering your house?
A few things a homeowner can do to prevent a rodent or animal invasion include the following: Examine your exterior walls and foundation and seal up any gaps, cracks, or holes that are found. If possible, check underneath stairs and decks as well, as these are possible entry points for chipmunks and other pests.
How to contact Big Blue Bug Solutions?
Big Blue Bug Solutions is standing by to help. Schedule Service or call (888) 258-3284.
Do chipmunks eat seedlings?
Although the normal complaints about chipmunks include their destructive habits of digging up and eating flower bulbs, seeds or seedlings, and digging up yards and gardens; if their populations are large enough, they can also cause structural damage by burrowing under patios, stairs, retention walls or foundations.
Can a chipmunk get inside a house?
While it is unusual for a chipmunk to get inside a home ( they prefer to live outside in the cool soil, underground) occasionally they do find a hole and accidentally crawl through it. This usually happens when there is a burrow underneath a step or foundation. If this happens, and you find yourself with a chipmunk running wild in your home, the best thing to do is open windows and doors and let the little guy escape. If possible, confine the animal to one or two rooms and open those windows until it is able to get free.
What are the little squirrels called?
Chipmunks. Chipmunks are those adorable little tiny squirrel-like critters that you normally think of when you visit parks. Small, smart, and very adaptable, chipmunks find their way into backyards in almost all areas in the United States (and beyond).
What to do if you have a chipmunk on your property?
Remove all dead trees and wood and brush piles on your property, as chipmunks use these as shelter areas and places to cache food.
How to keep chipmunks away from my garden?
Some gardeners swear by spraying cloudy ammonia to keep chipmunks at bay.
What does it mean when a chipmunk eats tomatoes?
Piles or caches of seed and grain in slightly hidden spots. During hot and dry spells, holes eaten out of low hanging vegetables, especially tomatoes is a sign a chipmunk has been getting drinking water out of your garden.
What is the best way to kill rodents?
Traps. There are many types that that are effective. Check with your local hardware store. Rat poison: NOTE: Many sprays and poisons that could kill rodents are also very dangerous to children and pets so use them with caution. Follow directions on the package label.
Where are small holes in a lawn?
Small holes in lawns and trails, usually near the foundation of the home, in the middle of a path or walkway, and along edging (this can damage paving and foundations).
Is playing the nice guy cutting it?
Sometimes, playing the nice guy just isn’t cutting it - especially if they find their way into your home.
How deep do chipmunks dig?
Burrowing: Chipmunks dig their own pairs of burrows, excavating as deep as 3 feet underground. Burrows are typically dug directly underneath or next to cover, because a chipmunk always requires protection from predators. Oftentimes chipmunk burrows cause damage when dug next to a home foundation.
How many acorns can a chipmunk gather in a day?
Fun Facts. One tiny chipmunk can gather up to 165 acorns in one day. Chipmunks have pouches inside of their cheeks in which they store food when foraging. The main entrance of a chipmunk burrow can extend up to 20 feet in length. A group of chipmunks is called a scurry.
What is a chipmunk?
Chipmunks are small, ground-dwelling members of the squirrel (Sciuridae) family known for their burrowing habits and love of nuts. Despite their size, chipmunks can cause significant damage to homes, yards, and farms. Below, learn important information about chipmunks, including general facts and how to identify chipmunk damage.
How big are chipmunks?
Neotamias (mostly western chipmunks - 23 existing species) Eutamias (Siberian chipmunk - sp. Eutamias sibiricus) Average Size: 2-6" long with a 3" tail; less than 1 lb. in weight. Average Lifespan in the Wild: 2-3 years. Identifying Features: Shades of brown/yellow/grey fur with white and black stripes down the back.
How many toes does a chipmunk have?
chipmunk tracks: tiny prints with four toes in the front and five in the back (front and hind feet are generally reversed)
What are chipmunk tracks?
uprooted bulbs. chipmunk tracks: tiny prints with four toes in the front and five in the back (front and hind feet are generally reversed)
When do chipmunks go to the burrows?
Chipmunk Behavior. Activity: Chipmunks are active in the daytime during spring, summer and fall. Chipmunks remain in their deep burrow systems during the winter, where they enter patterns of torpor (deep sleep and lower body temperature) interrupted by periods of feeding.
What happens if a chipmunk burrows into your house?
If chipmunk burrows are threatening your home, the chipmunks are probably overpopulated. If chipmunks have become a nuisance, contact your local agricultural extension agent. If burrows are extensive enough to damage your house, they are probably overpopulated for the habitat. Advertisement.
How are chipmunks different from squirrels?
Chipmunks can be distinguished from squirrels by their stripes. The eastern chipmunk (Tamias striatus) is common to much of the U.S. They weigh about three ounces and are five or six inches long. Their most distinctive features are the black, brown and white stripes running lengthwise down their backs. Advertisement.
What are the effects of chipmunks?
Effects. Chipmunks' burrows can damage landscape structures and building foundations. Chipmunks eat bulbs, fruits and young plants, but their most costly behavior is burrowing, which can cause structural damage to sidewalks, stairs or even foundations. Advertisement.
Where do chipmunks live?
Although chipmunks are native to woodlands , they thrive in suburbia. The Ohio State University Extension calls the eastern chipmunk "one of the most common wildlife nuisances.". Advertisement.
Do chipmunks chew wood?
Chipmunks do not chew wood, so they are not a hazard to trees, porch posts or walls; only their burrowing causes damage. The Oregon State University Extension considers at least one species--Tamias townsendii--to be beneficial to woodland ecosystems. Advertisement.
Who is Jennifer Spirko?
She has written for "MetroPulse," "Maryville-Alcoa Daily Times" and "Some" monthly. She has taught writing at North Carolina State University and the University of Tennessee. Spirko holds a Master of Arts ...
What Harm Do Chipmunks Do To Your Yard?
Chipmunks are tunneling rodents. They live in these tunnels, hibernate, store their food, and raise their babies there. They typically build summer tunnels which are more shallow, and winter tunnels which are deeper. These tunnels grow more and more complex over time, and based on the number of chipmunks dwelling in them.
How to stop chipmunks from digging holes?
If you have a problem with chipmunks digging holes in your yard, you can actually do a few more structural things to prevent (further) damage to your property from occurring. Surround your yard, deck or home with a foot-wide gravel border to prevent burrowing from happening too close to your structure. Keep any piles of wood or leaf debris away from the sides of your buildings, as these are favorite places for these critters to dig.
Why do chipmunks use their noses?
Chipmunks rely heavily on their noses both to find food and to sniff out danger. Watch them for any length of time and you’ll see how they stop every several feet for a quick sniff of the air around them.
Why is it futile to fill a hole?
Because of the complexity of their tunnels, filling up a solitary hole that you find is futile. It does nothing but cause them a little work as they simply dig it out or exit at another hole and re-dig beside your blocked off spot. Likely you already knew this though – the first thing we tend to try is filling up and blocking off the hole we see, and then grow frustrated when it’s back again a few hours later.
Where to display plastic owls?
One way to do this is to purchase and display one of those plastic owls near where the holes are appearing . If your chipmunks are gullible chipmunks like many are, then they will assume they are being hunted and decide to move on.
Do chipmunks eat bird seed?
Remember that chipmunks like to eat bird seed. While I don’t think you’ll find chipmunks climbing up poles and doing acrobatics to get at the bird feeder like a squirrel might, chipmunks being the ground feeders that they are, will happily use any spilled bird seed as food for themselves, and return regularly to that spot for more. So, clean up spilled bird seed, but also, if possible, choose bird seed that squirrels (and thus chipmunks) aren’t attracted to (like thistle, for example).
Do chipmunks come back?
We’re going to look at a few different things you can try. Chipmunks are very persistent; they keep coming back, and they keep re-digging your filled in holes. And so while you may find that it seems like rather hopeless a task, the truth is that with a little work on your end, the holes will stop appearing, the critter family will move on somewhere else, and hopefully you’ll go back to thinking that chipmunks are just cute and harmless little rodents again.
What are the carnivores that are considered a threat to squirrels?
Just about any carnivore bigger than one of these little critters is a potential threat. That includes owls, hawks, weasels, foxes, coyotes, raccoons, bobcats, lynxes, cats, dogs, snakes, and sometimes even their own squirrel cousins. Chipmunks avoid becoming meals by being quick and nimble — and sticking close to home. These speedy escape artists remain ever-vigilant while out foraging for food, racing away at the first sign of danger down their burrow hole, into the brush, or even up a tree.
What are the carnivores that are a threat to chipmunks?
Just about any carnivore bigger than one of these little critters is a potential threat. That includes owls, hawks, weasels, foxes, coyotes, raccoons, bobcats, lynxes, cats, dogs, snakes, and sometimes even their own squirrel cousins. Chipmunks avoid becoming meals by being quick and nimble — and sticking close to home. These speedy escape artists remain ever-vigilant while out foraging for food, racing away at the first sign of danger down their burrow hole, into the brush, or even up a tree.
What is the name of the tiny rodent that lives in the woods?
The eastern chipmunk (Tamias striatus) thrives in a variety of habitats across eastern North America. Chipmunks are as cute as can be, with their enchanting eyes, bushy tails, striped backs, and chubby cheeks. You may have seen these tiny rodents darting around your yard or nearby woodlands.
How much sleep do chipmunks need?
1. They Need About 15 Hours of Sleep Per Day. At least that’s true of chipmunks in captivity. If their wild cousins require the same amount of snooze time, then all that zippy scampering you see outside has to get done during a nine-hour window each day. 2. They Are a Type of Squirrel.
How much does a chipmunk weigh?
Weighing in at 1 to 5 ounces (28 to 142 grams), chipmunks are among the most diminutive members of the squirrel family. That means these pocket-sized rodents are also related to woodchucks and prairie dogs, which share a branch on the squirrel family tree as well.
How do chipmunks avoid becoming meals?
Chipmunks avoid becoming meals by being quick and nimble — and sticking close to home. These speedy escape artists remain ever-vigilant while out foraging for food, racing away at the first sign of danger down their burrow hole, into the brush, or even up a tree. 6. They Have a Lot of Food Sources, Too.
How cute are chipmunks?
Chipmunks are as cute as can be , with their enchanting eyes, bushy tails, striped backs, and chubby cheeks. You may have seen these tiny rodents darting around your yard or nearby woodlands. Or you may know them from Hollywood. Walt Disney introduced his animated chipmunk duo, Chip and Dale, in 1943, and 15 years later Ross Bagdasarian captured America’s heart with three chipmunk brothers — Alvin, Simon, Theodore — singing their musical hit “The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don’t Be Late).”
