How to Get Rid of Chipmunks in Illinois
Chipmunks are cute and furry little animals which is why lovable cartoon characters have been patterned after them. However, chipmunks are wild animals that can easily turn into pests if they are abundant in your neighborhood. They can be the cause of much destruction to your home and garden. There are several methods you can use to protect your home from chipmunk damage.
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Things You'll Need
- Large bucket
- Water
- Wood plank
- Sunflower seeds
- One-handed mouse trap
- Oatmeal
- Peanut butter
- Mothballs
Instructions
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Fill the large bucket half-way with water and set it outside. Use a wooden plank to lead to the bucket. Cover the water in the bucket with sunflower seeds, then spread more seeds around the grass leading to the plank. Chipmunks will keep eating the seeds and will not be able to resist the seeds inside the bucket. They will fall in and drown.
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Set a few one-handed mouse traps around your garden. Dab a peanut butter-oatmeal mix on the trap trigger.
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Place mothballs around the foundation of your home, putting one down every few feet or so. Chipmunks also like to burrow, so if you find burrowing holes, place several mothballs inside. Chipmunks are repelled by the smell of mothballs.
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Purchase a live animal trap. Set it up in your garden and again, place sunflower seeds or nuts leading to the trap. The food will lure the chipmunk into the trap, capturing the chipmunk without injuring it.
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Release trapped chipmunks about 5 to 10 miles away from your property. According to the University of Illinois Wildlife Directory, you must also get the permission of the landowner where you plan to release the chipmunk.
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Tips & Warnings
Call nuisance wildlife control specialists to trap and remove the animal for a fee.
Leaving pet cats or dogs in your backyard is also an effective way of deterring chipmunks.
Be proactive and take steps to exclude chipmunks from your home. Place hail screen bent at a 90 degree angle along your foundation to protect against burrowing. Use mesh and caulking to cover up holes and other possible points of entry into the house.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
