Chipmunks: A Nuisance in Your Garden
Chipmunks are small, furry rodents that can be a real pain in the neck for gardeners. They love to eat plants, dig holes, and chew on everything they can get their teeth on. If you’re not careful, they can quickly destroy your garden.
Damage Caused by Chipmunks
Chipmunks can cause a lot of damage to your garden, including:
- Eating plants: Chipmunks will eat just about anything, including flowers, fruits, vegetables, and even tree bark.
- Digging holes: Chipmunks love to dig holes, which can damage your lawn and garden beds.
- Chewing on electrical cables: Chipmunks have a habit of chewing on electrical cables, which can be dangerous and cause electrical fires.
Preventing Chipmunk Damage
There are a few things you can do to prevent chipmunks from damaging your garden:
- Remove food sources: Chipmunks are attracted to food, so the best way to prevent them from coming into your garden is to remove any food sources. This includes bird feeders, pet food, and compost piles.
- Cover your plants: If you have plants that are particularly attractive to chipmunks, you can cover them with netting or chicken wire to protect them.
- Set traps: If you have a serious chipmunk problem, you can set traps to catch them. However, be sure to check your traps regularly and release any non-target animals that you catch.
Removing Chipmunks
If you have chipmunks in your garden, there are a few things you can do to remove them:
- Live trapping: Live trapping is the most humane way to remove chipmunks from your garden. You can purchase live traps at most hardware stores.
- Exclusion: Exclusion involves sealing up any holes or cracks that chipmunks may be using to enter your garden.
- Repellents: There are a number of commercial repellents available that can help to deter chipmunks from your garden.
Repairing Chipmunk Damage
If chipmunks have already damaged your garden, there are a few things you can do to repair the damage:
- Replant damaged plants: If chipmunks have eaten your plants, you can replant them. Be sure to protect the new plants from further damage by covering them with netting or chicken wire.
- Fill in holes: If chipmunks have dug holes in your lawn or garden beds, you can fill them in with soil or sand.
- Repair electrical cables: If chipmunks have chewed on electrical cables, you should have them repaired by a qualified electrician.
Conclusion
Chipmunks can be a nuisance in your garden, but there are a number of things you can do to prevent and repair damage caused by these pests. By following the tips in this article, you can protect your garden from chipmunks and enjoy your outdoor space in peace.
