Does anyone know how to get rid of chipmunks?
Dottie from Decatur, IL
I bought a heart trap and use sunflower seeds as bait to trap them. Then I put the trap in the car and drive about 10 miles away and release them. Now when ever I see one I set the trap. I won't ever get rid of them all but it is a way to control the population. (07/27/2007)
By Dean
Boy if anything works, let me know. I have been trying for 33 years to get rid of the chipmunks here! Nothing has worked. For a couple of years we did have outside cats, 2, and that really helped, but we are great bird lovers and like to feed the birds now, so baiting in the birds to have a cat around is not something we will do. I tried the traps, they would not even go in them! (07/29/2007)
Fill a 5 gallon bucket with about 5-6 inches of water then pour in sunflower seeds so the water isn't visible. Place a strip of wood against the side to act as a ramp and place a few seeds on the ramp. As much as I hate killing living creatures, I had to do something quickly. The chipmunks were burrowing in my backyard, front yard, under my wall and near my foundation. They were also in my garage. (10/21/2007)
By Donna
Unfortunately, chipmunks are very prolific in addition to being destructive. If you've seen one, you've got many. The only thing that has worked for me is rat traps. Several years ago, I was at my wits end with extensive tunnels in the gardens, plants that wouldn't stay in the ground, damaged roots... I couldn't sit on my deck without several scampering by. A cat is out-I'm allergic and I feed birds. The year I began trapping, I caught 35! Bait with crunchy peanut butter and a drop of honey. It works every time and within about 24 hrs. Be sure to place the trap on a hard surface like a sidewalk or deck near the opening of one of their tunnels. If you have children, show them how dangerous the trap is by springing it. (05/22/2008)
By Maryalice
There are a number of posts describing the use of a pail of water with sunflower seeds on top. I can attest that this method really does work. Chipmunks can not resist sunflower seeds. They cannot tell there is water underneath the mat of sunflower seeds. The biggest problem I have had is the raiding of the sunflower seeds by squirrels. When the 5 gal pail is about half full, or a bit more, spread enough sunflower seeds on top to cover the surface of the water. I locate the pail next to a step with the top of the pail at the same level of the step. You will likely have to dig a small hole for the pail to be at the level of the step. When chipmunks come by they jump right in generally without hesitation. I put the dead chipmunks in the woods where they disappear within 24 hours. I use a bent coat hanger to find the dead chipmunks at the bottom of the pail. Again, believe me it really does work and you will be able eliminate a whole neighborhood of chipmunks over a summer. (05/31/2008)
By Joe
That swimming for chipmunks really works. I caught four the first day. (06/02/2008)
By I.T.W
The bucket trap worked for me, the first night out, one less chipmunk for me to deal with. (08/11/2008)
By Joe
I tried the bucket method as well. The sunflower seeds float right on top and it doesn't look like there is water in there. The next day when I checked, there were 2 of the varmints on the bottom. I just dumped them out back on the brush pile and filled the bucket up again. It really works. I, too, had the top of the bucket at the same height as the top step. I hated doing it, but when I saw the varmint go into my house-under the siding, I declared War! Reminds me of the movie Caddyshack. Thank God those 2 varmints are gone. (09/19/2008)
By mrmjkinne
I have some smart chipmunks and they're huge. They will not swim in the bucket. They walk around the traps. They laugh at the moth balls. The only way I found to get rid of them is to shoot them with a pellet gun. (09/20/2008)
By Kenny N.C.
The bucket method works great. I have been over run with chipmunks this past year and they are destroying my yard. I caught 10 or 11 chippies within 30 hours. I was amazed the first time I checked the bucket - I just kept scooping them out of the water. One would think these were lemmings! I even caught one field mouse. I'd like to figure out a way to get the seeds to last longer. After about 24 hours many begin to sink. (10/02/2008)
By kahuna44
We too had a problem with chipmunks in the walls of our house, under the porch, and hiding in the down spouts. The 5 gallon bucket method with sunflower seeds really works. We have "removed" four chipmunks. Thanks for the help! (11/02/2008)
By Dave
Hi. I have chipmunks in the walls of my daughter's room near the garage, will they come into the garage? I live in western NY and it is cold. We hear them all the time. Will they go into the cold bucket if there are seeds there, or do I have to wait for spring? (01/02/2009)
By SHARON L
I have put out 2 buckets with 2x4's leading up to the top and put seed on the wood and in the bucket - is the wood supposed to move and drop them in the bucket or does the seed make them jump? (02/10/2009)
By Barb from Alabama
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