How small of a hole can a chipmunk fit in?
Tiny holes in your siding are also dangerous since a chipmunk can fit into a space as small as two inches wide. Use caulk, expandable construction foam, or concrete to cover any cracks or holes that you see on the outside of your house.
Chipmunk burrows are 2-3 inches in diameter. They don't have mounds of dirt, like mole holes or ant hills. Instead, they're flat to the ground. On the inside, a chipmunk's burrow is a complex little home consisting of several entrances, some of which may be plugged and no longer used by the chipmunks.
Chipmunks end up in homes more often than you think. While they're foraging for food to cache, they may accidentally squeeze or even fall into your home. They'll squeeze through gaps in window frames or foundations, dash through screen doors, or even dig into your crawl space.
A gray squirrel can fit through a hole as small as a quarter. Holes can be sealed with wood, metal or 1/2 inch wire mesh. Nail the material firmly over the hole. Tacks and light staples do not work.
Just make sure not to pour liquid, chemicals, or mothballs into chipmunk burrows. These methods are dangerous and ineffective.
Mix 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of pureed garlic and red pepper flakes with 1 cup (240 ml) of soapy water. Use a spray bottle to apply the solution around the chipmunk holes and the perimeter of your home. Keep bird feeders 20–30 ft (6.1–9.1 m) from your home to move a food source.
To get outside, there are several entrances. Some might be plugged up temporarily or decommissioned permanently. A plunge hole refers to an opening that leads straight down. More complex burrows can have alternate/escape entrances.
Chipmunks don't like pepper, garlic or mint. Sprinkle cayenne pepper and garlic into garden beds and pots, repeating every few days in hot, humid weather. Create a hostile environment for their ears by alternately blaring music, setting your phone to obnoxious alarm sounds or using sound-emitting devices.
While we love the taste and smell of coffee, most animals can't stand its smell, including chipmunks. This is why coffee grounds can make an excellent barrier to keep chipmunks away. All you have to do is sprinkle them on the ground, and they can help deter these rodents.
Year-round, chipmunks are day-dwellers and do not leave their burrows at night. Their main period of inactivity is during the hottest months of the year, and may rarely leave their nests during those months.
Will vinegar deter chipmunks?
Yes, the intense aroma of vinegar, especially apple cider vinegar, tends to repel chipmunks. You can incorporate vinegar into a homemade solution and spray it onto your plants. You can also soak old rags in vinegar and position them in areas that you want the chipmunks to avoid.
They are most active at dusk and dawn. Chipmunks spend most of their days foraging. A single chipmunk can gather up to 165 acorns in a day, according to National Geographic Kids (opens in new tab).

You should also undertake a thorough assessment of your property to check for any gaps that will need to be sealed. Many squirrels can fit through a gap just two inches wide, so don't be too quick to discount a hole as being too small.
Squirrel Proof Galvanized Wire Mesh 25mm Holes, 16g
The 25mm hole is small enough to keep squirrels out, and the 1.6mm wire is thick enough to prevent them from chewing through the wire.
In most cases, a raccoon needs only four inches to squeeze through — think roughly the diameter of a small piece of fruit. Many property owners believe they should spot a hole that size, especially if it is around their attic or garage, but raccoons are intelligent and capable animals.
Place traps in areas you've identified as prime chipmunk territory: your attic, garden shed, along fences and walls, and near the house foundations. Peanuts, sunflower seeds, and peanut butter make excellent bait, which you place directly to the trigger plate.
Common chipmunk repellents are pureed garlic, hot peppers, or a combination of both. Steep the pureed garlic and hot peppers in 1 cup (240 mL.) of hot, soapy water until the water is cool.
- Make Bird Food Unpalatable. ...
- Pepper Your Plants. ...
- Find Natural Repellants. ...
- Get Technical. ...
- Tidy Up. ...
- Put up a Barricade. ...
- Trap Humanely. ...
- Escort Invaders Out.
Gardening lovers say that you can grate a bar of Irish Spring soap and sprinkle a barrier around your plants to put off animals like chipmunks and deer. Alternatively, you can cut the soap up, put it in a pouch and hang it on a stick.
Although they can climb trees, they spend most of their lives on the ground or underground in burrows that may reach 30 feet long and 3 feet deep. These burrow systems include nesting chambers and storage rooms for nuts and seeds that provide chipmunks with food throughout the winter.
How many chipmunks live in a hole?
Chipmunks are very defensive of their burrow sites and will engage in aggressive behavior if an intruder arrives. Chipmunks are not social animals, but they can live together in the form of a colony. You can find nearly 8 to 10 chipmunks in one small colony.
- Overall. Tomcat All-Weather Bait Chunx.
- Runner Up. JT Eaton Bait Block Rodenticide.
- Small Volume. Sweeney's Poison Peanuts.
Properly baiting a chipmunk trap is important. Did you know that chipmunks are peanut butter connoisseurs? They even enjoy a morsel of cheese now and then. Other effective chipmunk bait includes prune pits, unroasted peanuts, corn, sunflower seeds, cereal, grains and popcorn.
Chipmunks are afraid of cats and dogs — both of which are viewed as predators, according to Hyaenidae.
You can also make your chipmunk repellent using 3 ounces of Epsom salt and one teaspoon of Lysol mixed with one gallon of water. It is usually as effective as commercial products for chipmunk control. While using chipmunk repellents, you must avoid placing them anywhere close to kids or close to edibles.
Use an L-shaped footer to keep them from burrowing around foundations, sidewalks, porches, and retaining walls. Remove wood or rock piles and trim back plantings that provide cover or food sources around the area of concern. Surround the area with a plant-free gravel border.
Chipmunks don't like pepper, garlic or mint. Sprinkle cayenne pepper and garlic into garden beds and pots, repeating every few days in hot, humid weather. Create a hostile environment for their ears by alternately blaring music, setting your phone to obnoxious alarm sounds or using sound-emitting devices.
- Scratching and Scurrying Sounds in Your Walls and Ceilings. Squirrels and chipmunks are active little creatures. ...
- New Water Stains or Water Damage in Walls and Ceilings. ...
- Droppings in Attics, Garages, or Entry Points. ...
- Damage to Your Home's Interior or Exterior.
Although they can climb trees, they spend most of their lives on the ground or underground in burrows that may reach 30 feet long and 3 feet deep. These burrow systems include nesting chambers and storage rooms for nuts and seeds that provide chipmunks with food throughout the winter.
Chipmunks do not make a habit of infesting homes. The food and shelter they are looking for is outside. That being said, chipmunks can inadvertently find their way into your house. The Humane Society points out that the best way to get a chipmunk out of your home is to give it a path to escape.