# Getting rid of chipmunks **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 8, 1999, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-rid-of-chipmunks/2591 "1999-08-08T21:15:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![falcon2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dbc845/32.png) [@falcon2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/falcon2)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 1999, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-rid-of-chipmunks/2591/1 "1999-08-08T21:15:00Z")
A couple of bushy tailed rats are undermining my front porch. I tried sprinkling a few sunflower seeds around and sitting up on my roof with a .308 waiting for the little bastards to poke thier noses out. Unfortuately this is not nearly as entertaing as it sounds, and my neighbors started acting weird. The hardware store has stuff to get rid of gophers, moles, dogs, cat, rats, deer and snakes, but nada for chipmunks. Anyone have any tips? ---
**Author:** ![funneefarmer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9fc348/32.png) [@funneefarmer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/funneefarmer)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 1999, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-rid-of-chipmunks/2591/2 "1999-08-08T21:27:00Z")
Live box traps, they’re made of wire and come in various sizes. The place around here that carries them is Central Tractor, an agriculture type retailer (don’t know if this is a national chain) It would seem that Nasco (a mail order ag. retailer) would also carry it and they’re on the web, I think. Slap a couple of nuts in there an Voila, Chipmunk. Then, my suggestion, sneak over to your neighbors open window and drop them inside for some cheap entertainment. ---
**Author:** ![Akatsukami](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ea666f/32.png) [@Akatsukami](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akatsukami)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 1999, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-rid-of-chipmunks/2591/3 "1999-08-08T21:42:00Z")
Well, one possibility for getting rid of chipmunks is a cat. Of course, it’s necessary to get a _useful_ cat. Ours has caught four, but only killed one; the others were delivered, live, to the patio, and allowed to run loose. I suppose that they may have died of trauma or infection later, but not where we could see (or smell) them. Our cat also suffered the humiliation of having a chipmunk run over her whilst lying on the lawn: up her rump, over the back, and down the nose. This provided us with several minutes of amusement at her expense. If cats are too uncertain, and shooting chipmunks too boring, I would suggest rat traps. My mother-in-law uses them to catch the chipmunks that her green tomatoes (I don’t care for tomatoes myself, and wouldn’t care if the Argyle rats carried the whole vine back to their burrows). A little peanut butter on the trigger as bait, and, _voila!_, dead chipmunk. I will note that if the local fauna include such carnivores/scavengers as raccoons and coyotes (as the wildfire in my neighborhood does), you may find the traps disappearing; these critters would rather be served chipmunk on a shingle than hunt their own. * * * “Kings die, and leave their crowns to their sons. Shmuel HaKatan took all the treasures in the world, and went away.” ---
**Author:** ![aseymayo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a88e57/32.png) [@aseymayo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aseymayo)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 1999, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-rid-of-chipmunks/2591/4 "1999-08-08T23:31:00Z")
Why must it include killing? How about laying a trail of peanuts and when they’re out, you seal up the place where they get under your porch? They’ll go elsewhere - isn’t there room enough in the world for you AND chipmunks? Or there’s the “leave them alone” option - how much damage can they really do to your porch? Have they started carrying out sackfuls of dirt, or are they wearing tiny mining helmets? If not, you could just let them stay under the porch and flip them peanuts occasionally. ---
**Author:** ![EnigmaOne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@EnigmaOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EnigmaOne)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 1999, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-rid-of-chipmunks/2591/5 "1999-08-08T23:55:00Z")
{{{I tried sprinkling a few sunflower seeds around and **sitting up on my roof with a .308** waiting for the little bastards to poke thier noses out. Unfortuately this is not nearly as entertaing as it sounds, and **my neighbors started acting weird.** }}}—falcon2 ROFLMAO!!! I needed that! Thanks. A .308" is just the teeniest bit of over-kill, donchathink? The ammo is too expensive, and you’d have nothing left to mount over your mantle. Try a .22. I’d recommend a Ruger 10/22–loads of fun to empty out a 50 round magazine on a Sunday afternoon. Uh, don’t wear the cammo’s on the roof either–I have noticed that the most balanced of neighbors get a bit edgy when they see an armed person, dressed in cammoflauge fatigues, in a strategically advantageous position. 😉 Ok, now that I’ve mortified and alienated the animal rights activists… Call your local humane society and ask them to recommend a few agencies who specialize in trapping and relocating the pests. To those who don’t realize the significance in such animals **undermining** the structure of a home…believe me, they can do horrendous amounts of damage if allowed to dig unchecked–not all homes are possessed of a slab foundation. Good luck! * * * – **Kalél** (The Original **EnigmaOne** ) ---
**Author:** ![EnigmaOne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@EnigmaOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EnigmaOne)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 1999, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-rid-of-chipmunks/2591/6 "1999-08-08T23:58:00Z")
{{{No C&P}}} As an afterthought: Don’t wear a USPS uniform either. The neighbors will call out the SWAT Team for sure! * * * – **Kalél** (The Original **EnigmaOne** ) ---
**Author:** ![falcon2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dbc845/32.png) [@falcon2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/falcon2)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 1999, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-rid-of-chipmunks/2591/7 "1999-08-09T00:00:00Z")
I normally wouldn’t say this, but these fuzzy bastards have exhausted my patience. > [@](#): > > How about laying a trail of peanuts and when they’re out, you seal up the place where they get under your porch. They’ll go elsewhere You honestly dont have a clue do you? I tried flushing it with water to get them out, and filling the burrow entrances with rocks, and the next day, theres a a couple more holes. I tried sticking mothballs down the hole, which is supposed to repell them, but they just chuck them out. > [@](#): > > Or there’s the “leave them alone” option - how much damage can they really do to your porch? My neighbor across the street just payed $7200 to have his porch replaced because it was undermined by the vermin and settled, cracking it to pieces. I’ll leave them alone if **YOU** want to pick up the tab, ok? Didn’t think so. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 1999, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-rid-of-chipmunks/2591/8 "1999-08-09T00:01:00Z")
I’m with asseymayo. I’ve lived with chipmunks (outside) and we got used to each other. they don’t really hurt anything, and they’re fun to watch. Kids love 'em, and you get to be mr. nice guy. Enjoy your sensitive side, falcon2. 😉 Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![According\_to\_Pliny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@According\_to\_Pliny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/According_to_Pliny)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 1999, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-rid-of-chipmunks/2591/9 "1999-08-09T00:46:00Z")
Well, I once saw this cartoon where Donald Duck crammed 500 sticks of TNT into the hole and…uh, nevermind, it didn’t work and the two little bastards just came back to torment him in the next cartoon. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 1999, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-rid-of-chipmunks/2591/10 "1999-08-09T01:55:00Z")
Try fox urine. You can get it at most larger garden centers and supposively it works well against most small beaties (I know it works well on rabbits). There’s also some company, Smokey Mountian something-or-another that has a website about it, so that probably doesn’t help you much. But trust me, I’ve heard good things about it. You apply it (it comes in a bottle) to little holders and stick them about every 15 feet or so. Makes the little guys think there’s a fox about so they find a new home. Also comes in coyote, lynx, and wolf flavors. * * * “I guess it is possible for one person to make a difference, although most of the time they probably shouldn’t.” ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 1999, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-rid-of-chipmunks/2591/11 "1999-08-09T02:34:00Z")
I’ve got a barely used ultrasonic rat blaster I’ll let ya have _cheap_. ---
**Author:** ![falcon2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dbc845/32.png) [@falcon2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/falcon2)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 1999, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-rid-of-chipmunks/2591/12 "1999-08-09T02:41:00Z")
Ok mangeorge, asseymayo and any other tree hugging freaks out there. They are UNDER MY PORCH, and the can and do cause REAL DAMAGE. Which could cost me THOUSANDS of dollars. Maybe may sarcasm was lost on you, but I did not really sit on my roof with a freaking ELK rifle shooting at chipmunks. I dont really care where the hell they live as long as it is not under my porch, and all things being equal, I would rather not have their rotting carcasses stinking up the joint. So if you got any remotely plausible suggestions that will make them pack up their little chimpumk bags and move 15 feet I’m interested. But if you just want to tell me to coexist at a potentaily tremedous expense to me, let me remind you that such cash could be donated to save wolves, whales, wetlands, and whatnot if the freaking chipmonks would just MOVE! ---
**Author:** ![aseymayo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a88e57/32.png) [@aseymayo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aseymayo)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 1999, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-rid-of-chipmunks/2591/13 "1999-08-09T03:55:00Z")
Falson2, I’m sorry if I impugned your character, but you sounded set on extermination. I didn’t think chipmunks could be that destructive, but if you say they are, I believe you. So how about consulting a real expert? We have a pest control guy in town who specializes in trapping and removing small animals and relocating them. Try the yellow pages. Or as EnigmaOne said, call the humane society. It might cost you a few bucks, but it can’t cost more than new porch. ---
**Author:** ![Jorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9fc29f/32.png) [@Jorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jorge)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 1999, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-rid-of-chipmunks/2591/14 "1999-08-09T04:57:00Z")
The ultrasonic boxes are worthless. What **does** work, though: Get a Nagra, or other fine tape recorder; a rat box-type (live) trap; some #20 copper wire, a razor blade, some salt, a lantern battery, several q-tips, a rasp, one roll duct tape, a 2-ft square piece of plywood, some curtains, and a bottle of tequila. 1. drink tequila; 2. put plywood on ground, surround with curtains [for privacy]; 3. set up microphone and recorder on corner of the plywood; 4. set up battery on adjacent corner; 5. catch one critter of target species; 6. use remaining equipment to torture said critter, putting it down humanely after one side of tape; 7. splice tape into loop, then play it daily with a small speaker set under the porch (I’d seen this work at an overseas military base - with rats). Or follow the best piece of advice given so far on this thread: call a professional, which could be found in either the Yellow Pages or via the local animal control officer. The pro will have the techniques, the permits, etc… and costs **on the order of** a C-note. Good luck ! It can be real aggravating, what you’ve got now. * * * “Proverbs for Paranoids, 1: You may never get to touch the Master, but you can tickle his creatures.” - T.Pynchon, _Gravity’s Rainbow_. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 1999, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-rid-of-chipmunks/2591/15 "1999-08-09T16:26:00Z")
Try fox urine. You can get it at most larger garden centers and supposively it works well against most small beaties (I know it works well on rabbits). There’s also some company, Smokey Mountian something-or-another that has a website about it, so that probably doesn’t help you much. But trust me, I’ve heard good things about it. You apply it (it comes in a bottle) to little holders and stick them about every 15 feet or so. Makes the little guys think there’s a fox about so they find a new home. Also comes in coyote, lynx, and wolf flavors. * * * flavors??? * * * Formerly known as Nec3f on the AOL SDMB ---
**Author:** ![falcon2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dbc845/32.png) [@falcon2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/falcon2)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 1999, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-rid-of-chipmunks/2591/16 "1999-08-10T05:24:00Z")
> [@](#): > > I’m sorry if I impugned your character, but > you sounded set on extermination. > Or as EnigmaOne said, call the humane society. Ffft. They advised me to call an exterminator. So far fox whizz is the best solution proposed. I have cats but the like hunting small more annoying animals like furbies. And since I have cats, I cant really use mechanical traps. I wonder if getting my dog to leak out front would do the trick. Jorge: have you tested that tequenique or did you you learn it in applied psychopathy 101? ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 1999, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-rid-of-chipmunks/2591/17 "1999-08-10T05:48:00Z")
“Live with them” ??? Well, sure, if they’re just digging up your backyard, maybe. But when they start to burrow under the porch or sidewalk or steps, they can undermine the concrete and it can be very expensive to replace. My neighbour and I have had this problem for the last few summers. We’ve tried about everything, like sitting on the porch with a BB-gun, water, blocking up the tunnels, etc. My dog is useless, he’ll chase them but he doesn’t catch them. We found two approaches that are effective: (a) Call a pest-control company. They put out the wire cages that funneefarmer suggested, although they said they use peanut butter as bait. The cages trap the chimpmunks and the pest-control people then drive them out to the woods far away to let 'em loose. Cost depends on how many they trap, but ranged from $200 to $300. Cheaper to do it yourself, if you wanna buy the cages and drive the li’l buggers out to the woods. You need to check the traps every day, of course, because you just wanna get rid of 'em, you don’t wanna cause them suffering being locked up for days without food or water. (b) Rat poison works. The hardware stores around us are forbidden to tell you how to kill chipmunks – not sure why – but we experimented with various poisons, and found rat poison was effective. Mouse poison, no, but rat poison, yes. CAUTION – you don’t wanna leave that stuff out for birds, dogs, cats, squirrels, or stray children. I dumped the rat poison down the chipmunk hole, so that only the 'munks would eat it, and they presumably died in their holes. (I kept a careful look out because I didn’t want dead poisoned bodies lying around for the dog or crows to pick at.) It took about four or five days, when I blocked up the holes and they didn’t unblock them. Before the Anti-Cruelty to Chipmunk Society gets after me, I want to stress I only did this to the holes around the concrete foundations of the porch, and the steps. The ones out in back by the tree, I left alone. I don’t approve of massacring harmless li’l beasts, but when they dig under the concrete they ain’t harmless. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 1999, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-rid-of-chipmunks/2591/18 "1999-08-09T18:11:00Z")
Hey, I’m all for killing the little fuckers. Provided that you make a sport out of it. With all the tree huggers about, I felt it needed to be said. Happy Hunting. ---
**Author:** ![eggo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c4cdca/32.png) [@eggo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eggo)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 1999, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-rid-of-chipmunks/2591/19 "1999-08-09T19:01:00Z")
one great “trap” that i have discovered is actualy one that my dad invented here is a diagram: \ \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ | | | | | / \ | ground\_\_ \_\_\_\_|/ |\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\__ **|** _ ``` ^--hard for critters to fit through ``` critter comes up through his critter hole into the trap and discovers there is no way out but the way he came, he tries to go back through but the inward tilted sheet metal is unforgiving and scrapes all the skin off his back and belly. the inposing critter than bleeds to death in his burrow. thus making the other critters not like to live there, and they will leave. after they are gone, fill the hole with cement. \ ## i hope this helps i am on a never-ending quest to eliminate capital letters ---
**Author:** ![Narile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@Narile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Narile)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 1999, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-rid-of-chipmunks/2591/20 "1999-08-09T19:21:00Z")
## One thing my Grandmother used to do was bury up to the neck a couple of bottles with screw on lids, fill the bottles with a measure of ammonia, then around dusk/dawn, when the monks are most active, uncork the bottles. You cork the bottles up the rest of the time to avoid to harsh a scent in the yard. She used this for the garden and it did work. \>\>Being Chaotic Evil means never having to say your sorry…unless the other guy is bigger than you.\<\< —The dragon observes [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-rid-of-chipmunks/2591.md?page=2)