Most people go to extreme limits to keep rats and mice out of their homes. Yet, they find a chipmunk sighting to be charming, despite the rodents’ malicious activities!
So, do chipmunks cause damage?
Don’t be fooled by the cute appearance of chipmunks. These rodents are as destructive as they can be. The vexing rodents can damage your garden, your home foundation, and even your car!
Do you want to find out more? In this article, we’ll tell you the different ways chipmunks can damage your property, and how you can get rid of them. Let’s dive in!
Do Chipmunks Cause Damage to Homes?
While chipmunks rarely live inside your home, they can get inside foraging for food. In the process, the tiny animals can knock things over, get into your pantry, or disrupt your pets.
This shouldn’t be a cause for concern, since the chipmunks will usually get out of your home right away.
Unfortunately, chipmunks might make burrows near your house, then hide in your floorboards and walls. This way, they can have permanent access to your home.
In case you find a sign of chipmunk activity, you should immediately check for burrows and look for ways to get rid of chipmunks.
How to Get Rid of Chipmunks in Homes
If a chipmunk makes its way into your home, don’t worry! You can easily repel the vermin in numerous ways.
For starters, if this is a solitary incident, all you have to do is crack open a window and the rodent will leave on its own.
However, if the chipmunk seems to be a frequent visitor, here are all the different ways you can get rid of it:
- Use spray chipmunk repellent.
- Spray potent-smelling essential oils, such as peppermint and cedarwood, in areas where the chipmunks hide.
- Invest in an ultrasonic animal repellent.
- Leave coffee grounds around your house.
- Put food in airtight containers so as not to attract chipmunks and other vermin.
- Use chipmunk traps.
- Don’t hesitate to call a professional if you suspect a severe chipmunk infestation.
Can Chipmunks Cause Damage to Gardens?
Chipmunks typically live in the forest. So, they’re pretty comfortable in gardens and yards. Though you might find the rodents an adorable addition to your garden, they’ll quickly damage your plants.
For example, if you have a thriving vegetable garden, chipmunks will make a meal out of your precious foliage.
Chipmunks can also dig out plant bulbs, regardless of their type, to feed on the bulb.
That’s not all. Even if the rodents aren’t particularly hungry, they’ll still dig burrows around your garden, damaging the roots along the way.
Furthermore, chipmunks can damage flowers in your garden, fences, greenhouses, and other structures. They might even disrupt water flow in the yard.
How to Get Rid of Chipmunks in Gardens
It’s easy to understand why chipmunks are such unwelcome visitors to gardens. Keeping animals away from your outdoor area might seem impossible. Still, you can deter chipmunks from your garden.
To start, you can employ similar methods that you use to keep chipmunks from getting inside your home. Yet, you’ll have to frequently spray animal repellents, as their smell will quickly fade.
Here are some chipmunk-repellent methods you can use outdoors;
- Plant pungent herbs and flowers such as mint, beebalm, and echinacea.
- Install motion sensor water sprayers.
- Use a strong-smelling fertilizer that doubles as a chipmunk-repellent, such as blood meal.
- Scatter animal hair and urine outdoors to scare chipmunks away.
Can Chipmunks Cause Foundation Damage?
One of the most pressing concerns when it comes to any animal infestation is foundation damage. Not only can this completely ruin the integrity of your home, but it’s also incredibly costly to fix.
Chipmunks can be the culprits behind home foundational damage. The animals don’t eat your home’s foundation, but their burrowing and nesting activities can mess with the foundation structure.
This is unlikely to happen if a single chipmunk manages to get into your home. However, sighting a chipmunk means numerous more are nearby.
That’s because one or two chipmunks in your yard aren’t enough to damage your home’s foundation. After all, a couple of tiny rodents are unlikely to dig a tunnel large enough to result in real issues.
The worst part is that chipmunks don’t have to physically get inside your home to damage its foundation. Instead, when these rodents dig tirelessly around your house, they’ll probably cause some disturbance.
How to Get Rid of Chipmunks in Home Foundation
If you notice chipmunk activity near your home, it’s time to check for tunnels and holes.
Chipmunk burrows are tricky to locate. That’s because they’re flat, unlike mole or ant hills. The tunnels are two to three inches in diameter.
Inside, the structure of the burrows is complex. First, there are multiple plunge holes going straight down. Then, the holes connect to one tunnel, acting like multiple entrances.
The burrows also contain “pockets.” These are tiny holes in the tunnel where the chipmunks store food scraps. The pockets might also act as a potty or a chipmunk baby nest!
Additionally, there are numerous vertical tunnels that serve as drainage holes, keeping the chipmunks dry. Lastly, the tunnels connect to a larger area where the chipmunks sleep.
Once you find these tunnels, filling them up will be simple enough! You might also spray animal urine in the holes to scare the chipmunks away and keep them from digging the tunnels back.
Can Chipmunks Cause Damage to Your Car?
Chipmunks are well-known for causing damage to vehicles. That’s because the rodents might seek refuge near your car’s warm engine in cold weather.
Still, the rodents might get into your car during warmer months. Some people believe rodents are attracted to the car wiring material or magnetic field. However, chipmunks just prefer nesting in dark places.
Additionally, cars are a safe haven away from large predators that can’t get inside the confined space.
During their visit, chipmunks might chew your car’s electrical wiring. This’ll lead to numerous issues all over your vehicle.
While your mechanic can identify rodent damage and fix it right away, the issue will reoccur unless you find a way to keep chipmunks from getting into your car.
How to Get Rid of Chipmunks in Cars
Getting chipmunks to stay away from your car can be tricky, especially since it’s such a cozy sleeping spot!
Well, you can scare the tiny vermin away using the same methods you would use in your home. For example, spraying peppermint essential oil in your car will double as a chipmunk-repellent and a deodorizer.
Furthermore, keeping your car clean and parking away from garbage reduces your chances of encountering adorable yet pesky chipmunks!
Final Thoughts
Do chipmunks cause damage?
Chipmunks are one of the most destructive rodents out there. These tiny creatures wreak havoc in your home, garden, and car.
Simply put, chipmunks’ digging and gnawing habits can cause damage to your precious plants and your car wiring. In addition, if you have too many chipmunks digging near your home, they might damage its foundation.
Fortunately, chipmunks are easily scared. A pungent odor, such as mint or garlic, is enough to drive the rodents away. Moreover, if you have a pet, chipmunks will take a whiff of its urine or fur and immediately flee!
Ben has a bachelor’s degree in construction engineering. When not constructing or remodeling X-Ray Rooms, Cardiovascular Labs, and Pharmacies, you can find him at home with wife and two daughters. Outside of family, He loves grilling and barbequing on his Big Green Egg and Blackstone Griddle, as well as working on projects around the house.
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