Do you have a chipmunk issue in your home? You’re not alone. These pesky little rodents are known for their quick movements and ability to squeeze into tight spaces, making them difficult to catch. But don’t despair – there are some things you can do to increase your chances of success. Follow these tips and you’ll be one step closer to ridding your home of unwanted chipmunks!
How to Catch a Chipmunk
The Shoe Box Method
If you’ve spotted a chipmunk in your house, it’s likely causing havoc by chewing on furniture and getting into other areas of your home. The best way to catch them is with the shoe box method. This method requires minimal tools, and can be done quickly.
Here’s how to do it:
- Find a medium-sized shoe box or similar container that has a lid. Make sure that there are no holes in the sides or the bottom, so that the chipmunk cannot escape once inside.
- Place some bait (such as nuts or seeds) inside of the shoe box. Make sure that they are scattered evenly throughout the box so that the chipmunk will move around while trying to get them.
- Place the shoebox in an area that you have seen the chipmunk enter or exit from, such as a cabinet or closet.
- Leave the box for around 30 minutes, and then come back to check it. If you see evidence of the chipmunk having gone inside (like footprints), carefully place the lid on top of the box and secure it with tape.
- Take your captured chipmunk outside, away from your house, and release him into a wooded area far away from your home.
This simple method is an effective way to catch chipmunks without harming them. Just remember to securely cover the box before taking it outside so that you don’t accidentally release the chipmunk back into your home. [1]
Live Traps for Chipmunks
Another option for catching chipmunks is to set a live trap. Live traps are a humane way of catching animals without harming them, and can be purchased at most hardware stores or online.
Here’s how to use one:
- Bait the trap by placing some type of food, such as oats or sunflower seeds, inside it.
- Place the trap in an area where you have seen chipmunks before; for example, near a pile of wood chips or along your foundation wall.
- Check the trap regularly throughout the day and night until you have caught your chipmunk(s).
- Once you have safely captured the animal, release it outdoors at least five miles away from where you found it to ensure that they don’t come back into your home again.
It’s important to check local wildlife regulations before setting any traps and make sure to respect any laws and safety guidelines that are applicable in your area. Doing so will help ensure that you are safely and humanely catching chipmunks without causing any unnecessary harm to the animal or anyone else in the process.
Havahart Cage Trap For Chipmunks
Using a Havahart cage trap is perhaps the simplest way to catch a chipmunk inside your house. The enclosure-style trap works by luring the chipmunk inside with bait, and then triggering a door that shuts behind it.
To set up the trap, start by baiting it with something tasty like sunflower seeds or peanut butter placed on the floor of the cage. Place the open side of the cage against a wall, so that when the chipmunk runs in, there’s no escape route. Position it near where you’ve seen the chipmunk moving around and wait until he takes the bait. Once he’s been lured inside, pull on a string attached to the trigger plate at one end of the cage, which will shut the door. After you’ve caught the chipmunk, take it far away from your home and release it in a safe outdoor space. [2]
Bucket Style Traps
Bucket style traps are an effective way to catch chipmunks. To use a bucket style trap, start by getting a large plastic or metal bucket with at least one inch of water in it. Place any type of bait like peanuts, birdseed, or even candy inside the bucket and set it near where you suspect the chipmunk is entering your house. Once the chipmunk climbs into the bucket, they will be unable to climb out because of the smooth sides of the bucket and will eventually drown in the water.
Make sure to empty and reset the trap once you have removed the chipmunk from it. This method should only be used if other methods fail or if there is a real risk that children or pets may come into contact with the chipmunk. If you do use a bucket style trap, always check it regularly to ensure that any animal trapped inside is removed in a timely manner and released.
With proper care and patience, you can successfully catch and remove a chipmunk from your house using a bucket style trap.
What To Do After You’ve Caught The Chipmunk
Once you have successfully caught the chipmunk in your home, you need to decide what to do with it. You have a few options:
- Release It Outside – This is usually the best option for both the chipmunk and yourself. Find an area near your home that isn’t heavily populated and let it go free. Make sure there are plenty of trees and food sources nearby so it can find its way back into nature without any problems.
- Take It To A Wildlife Rehabilitation Center – If you’re concerned about whether or not the chipmunk will survive if released on its own, consider taking it to a wildlife rehabilitation center near you. The professionals at these centers can assess the chipmunk’s health and give it the best chance of survival in its natural environment.
- Relocate The Chipmunk – If you don’t want to take the chipmunk to a rehabilitation center, you can try relocating it yourself. Pick a location far enough away from your home that the animal won’t find its way back easily. Make sure there is plenty of food and shelter available for when it arrives at its new home.
No matter which option you choose, make sure that safety comes first for both you and the animal. Wearing protective clothing, such as gloves and goggles, is recommended if you plan on handling the chipmunk directly. Remember, chipmunks can be very skittish, so take your time and move slowly to ensure the process is safe for everyone involved. [3]
How Did The Chipmunk Get In Your House?
Chipmunks can be tricky little creatures, so there are a few ways they may have snuck into your home. The most likely way is through small openings in the exterior of your house like cracks around windows or holes in the walls and siding.
Additionally, chipmunks may have been able to squeeze their way through other spaces such as air vents or chimneys. To ensure that no more chipmunks make their way inside, try sealing these entry points with wire mesh or caulk.
Another possible explanation for having an unwelcome guest is that you’ve accidentally left some food out and the chipmunk has made its way inside to get at it! This could be anything from bird seed spilled on your balcony or a forgotten sandwich crumb in the kitchen. To prevent further invasions, make sure to keep food stored securely and clean up any scraps immediately.
What Is Attracting The Chipmunks To Your House?
Chipmunks are attracted to homes that have plenty of food sources and warm, sheltered places. If you have a bird feeder or other outdoor pet food in your yard, this may be a source of food for chipmunks. They also like to take shelter in dark, damp spaces such as crawlspaces and underneath decks. Make sure to remove any potential sources of food and shelter around your house. [4]
Chipmunk Repellents
Chipmunks may be cute, but they can be destructive if they get into your house. To help discourage them from entering your home, you can use various chipmunk repellents. These include natural repellents like mothballs, garlic, and peppermint oil; artificial repellents like ultrasonic sound devices and motion-activated sprinklers; and chemical repellents such as predator urine. Checking the area around your home for points of entry for chipmunks is also important in deterring them from entering.
Finally, make sure to securely store food items that may attract chipmunks away from their reach. With these measures in place, you should find it easier to catch a chipmunk if it does enter your home. If you do manage to catch one, make sure to release it in an area away from your home so it can’t return.
Plants that Work as Chipmunk Repellent
The scent of peppermint is particularly effective at keeping chipmunks away. To make a homemade repellent spray using this plant, steep 10 drops of pure peppermint essential oil into 4 cups of hot water for an hour before straining out the leaves. Use this mixture to spray around window sills, doorways, and other areas that may be prone to chipmunk traffic.
Other plants with strong odors such as garlic and onions can also work as chipmunk repellent. To make a spray with these plants, mince them and combine the pieces with 2 cups of hot water before straining out the pulp. Use this mixture to spray around doorways and windowsills in your home.
You can also plant certain types of flowers and herbs around your house that may help deter chipmunks from entering your property. Marigolds, lavender, rosemary, and daffodils are all known to have strong scents that repel animals like chipmunks.
Finally, sprinkling cayenne pepper or ammonia around potential entry points can also help keep chipmunks away. The smell of these ingredients will be too strong for them to bear and they will quickly vacate the area.
With a combination of these methods, you should be able to keep chipmunks out of your home once and for all! Make sure to use all of these strategies together in order to maximize effectiveness. [5]
FAQ
How do you get a chipmunk out of the house?
The best way to get a chipmunk out of the house is by using humane trapping methods. Humane traps can be purchased from your local hardware store and bait should be placed inside the trap to attract chipmunks. Once the chipmunk has been trapped, it should be released outdoors in an area away from human dwellings.
What kind of bait attracts chipmunks?
Chipmunks are attracted to sweet, salty and crunchy foods like sunflower seeds, nuts, rolled oats, peanut butter crackers or other food that contains nut-based ingredients. It’s also important to consider the type of bait you use; for example, live bait such as mice or other small animals won’t be attractive to chipmunks.
How can I prevent chipmunks from entering my house?
The best way to keep chipmunks away is by preventing them from having access to your home in the first place. Make sure that any gaps or openings around windows, doors, pipes and other areas of entry are sealed off with caulk or weatherstripping.
Additionally, inspect your property for hiding places like wood piles and remove any food sources that may be attracting the chipmunk. Finally, you can use traps around the perimeter of your home to catch any wandering chipmunks before they enter your house.
What should I do if I see a chipmunk inside my house?
If you see a chipmunk inside your house, the best course of action is to remain calm and try not to startle or scare it. Then, you can use a humane trap to catch the chipmunk and release it outdoors in an area away from human dwellings. If the chipmunk appears to be injured or sick, contact your local wildlife rehabilitator for assistance.
How do I clean up after a chipmunk infestation?
Once you have removed any active chipmunks from inside your home, it’s important to perform some basic cleaning steps to help prevent future infestations. Vacuum any areas where droppings may have collected, wash down surfaces with hot water and soap and discard any soiled bedding materials. Additionally, inspect your home for any potential entry points and seal them off with caulk or weatherstripping.
Are chipmunks dangerous?
Chipmunks can carry diseases that can be dangerous to humans, such as rabies and plague, but these cases are rare. Generally speaking, chipmunks should not be considered a threat to people or other animals but it’s important to remember that they are wild animals and should not be handled by untrained individuals.
Additionally, if you see a sick or injured chipmunk in your home, contact your local wildlife rehabilitator for assistance.
How do you catch a chipmunk with no trap?
There are a few methods you can use to capture a chipmunk without the need for traps. These include setting up a live trap, using non-lethal deterrents, or manual removal (if you’re brave enough!).
Live Trapping: If you have an area in your house that is easily accessible to the chipmunk, such as an open window or door, then setting up a live trap may be the easiest method of capturing it. Live traps come with instructions on how to bait and set them up properly. Once the trap has been baited and set in place, be sure to check it periodically and release any other animals that might get caught inside.
Non-Lethal Deterrents: If you’d prefer to avoid using a live trap, there are also several non-lethal deterrents that can be used to keep chipmunks away from your house. These include prickly plants or objects, motion sensors, and ultrasonic repellents.
Manual Removal: If all else fails and you feel brave enough, you can attempt manual removal of the chipmunk. This involves locating it in your house and then capturing it by hand. While this is the least recommended method due to its potential danger to both yourself and the chipmunk, it may still be necessary if other methods fail. To ensure safety for both parties, use thick gloves and move slowly when attempting manual removal.
Will a chipmunk bite you?
Chipmunks typically will not bite unless they feel threatened. If you come across a chipmunk and it does not seem to be scared of you, it is best to back away slowly and give the animal some space. It is important to remember that chipmunks are wild animals and can be unpredictable, so never attempt to pick one up or corner it. If a chipmunk has wandered into your home, the best way to catch it is by using a humane live-trap and bait such as nuts, sunflower seeds, or peanut butter. Place the trap in an area where you have seen signs of the chipmunk – this could be near food sources in your pantry or cupboards – and be sure to check the trap at least once every 24 hours.
Once you have caught the chipmunk, it is important to release them back into the wild as soon as possible. Never relocate a chipmunk more than a few miles away from where you found it, and make sure they can access food and water sources in their new home. With some patience and caution, you can easily catch a chipmunk in your house without any harm coming to either of you!
Useful Video: How to catch a Chipmunk in your House
Conclusion
Once you have caught the chipmunk, it is important to release the animal far away from your home. You should never attempt to keep a wild animal as a pet, as it can be dangerous and illegal in some states. If possible, try to find an area near your home where the chipmunk can live safely and where they will not bother people or cause damage to property. By following these steps and taking the necessary precautions, you can safely catch any chipmunks that may be living in or around your house.
Good luck!
References
- https://www.ehow.com/how_8236694_can-lure-chipmunk-out-house.html
- https://www.squirrelsatthefeeder.com/how-to-catch-a-chipmunk-in-your-house/
- http://www.wildlifeanimalcontrol.com/chipmunkcatch.html
- https://www.tipsbulletin.com/how-to-catch-a-chipmunk/
- https://www.mymove.com/pest-control/remove-chipmunks/