To keep chipmunks out of a garden, there are several effective and humane strategies:
- Remove chipmunks' habitat: Clear wood piles, brush, dense shrubs, and rock piles near the garden to reduce hiding and burrowing spots. Create open space between wooded areas and garden beds to make the area less attractive for chipmunks.
- Physical barriers: Use hardware cloth or wire mesh fences around garden beds, buried 6-12 inches deep with an outward bend to prevent burrowing underneath. For bulbs, use cages or plant them under hardware cloth just below the soil surface.
- Garden maintenance: Keep the garden tidy by removing fallen fruits, nuts, and debris that attract chipmunks. Fix any gaps in fencing and rotate crops to disrupt chipmunks' routines.
- Natural deterrents: Plant strong-smelling plants such as mint, garlic, or onions around the garden. Spray plants with natural repellents like cayenne pepper mixed with water, and reapply after rain.
- Traps and humane removal: Use live traps baited with peanut butter, sunflower seeds, or raisins. Check traps often, and if legal in your area, relocate chipmunks to other parts of your property.
- Alternative deterrents: Motion-activated sprinklers and ultrasonic noise devices can temporarily deter chipmunks but may lose effectiveness over time. Encouraging natural predators like cats, hawks, or owls can also help keep chipmunk populations down.
- Avoid ineffective home remedies: Mothballs, peppermint oil, and garlic sprays have limited scientific backing and can sometimes harm beneficial wildlife or pets.
Combining these approaches—a clean garden, physical barriers, natural repellents, and humane trapping—provides the best results for keeping chipmunks out of gardens humanely and effectively.
