chipmunks

doody

I have alot of chipmunks around my yard. They don't really bother me. They do dig alot of holes in the ground, but no biggie. Well, not untill now. I was checking on my cuttings today, and what do you know, they were all out of their starter pots laying on the ground. Due to a little investigating, I found a small hole in the ground next to the pots. Looks just like all the other holes in my yard. I also found simular holes in the potting mix (in the pots).

Now, I might be jumping the gun, but I'm pretty damn sure it was those little cute things. They have'nt botherd my trees yet, but I think preventative measures are in need. I have a small dog, but my yard is like a football field to him. He can't see everything. My trees are raised off the ground, but these things climb, and jump.

I have seen mole and deer repellents, but is there anything for chipmunks? I don't want to kill them, just keep them away. By the way, they did leave me three cuttings, so all is not lost. SOMEBODY HELP!!!

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cyoung

A cat is in order. I had problems with moles until the neighbors got a cat. A dog will never solve your chipmunk problem. A nice outdoor cat will. Preferably farm stock so it has been selected to hunt.

doody

I am allergic to cats, and I really don't like them either. Besides, it's moms house and I gotta follow the rules. Any other tips?

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TreeBay

Cayenne pepper is supposed to be effective against rodents to discourage rooting and digging in the soil. I have also seen it packaged commercially for this purpose. Sprinkle some on top of the soil.

Regards,

Matt

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Moni

But they are sooo cute! Seriously though...........You can try Ropel spray. That sometimes works. Cats don't work. I have three very active cats that keep the mole population down but they must think the chipmunks are cute, too. Trapping usually works, if you have the stomach for it. The common rat snap traps work. But bait them with bird seed or whatever without setting the traps for a few days so they will get used to taking the bait. The Havahart type traps work but you might just be moving the chipmunks into somebody elses problem. You can try using 1/4 inch mesh hardware cloth buried 6-8 inches deep around the area you want to protect. That often works, but not always. Keep your birdfeeders at least 15-30 feet away from the area you want to protect. They LOVE birdseed. That is all I can think of for now. Check with your local extension office. They should have some other ideas.
Moni

Shambhala

Don't kill the poor thing, they aren't doing that much damage.

Try cayenne pepper though; I have used it in the past and had good results.

Moni

Shambhala, I agree with you to a certain extent. I have never had chipmunks do much damage in my yard, either. However, damage by pulling plants out of the ground, etc., is not unheard of. They can also multiply quite rapidly if they are really enjoying their environs. Their tunneling can cause extensive damage when they tunnel under patios driveways, etc. If it is just a matter of moving a few plants out of their way, then that should be good enough. But sometimes the chipmunk problem can be much more serious than that.
Moni