Chipmunks are undeniably charming with their stripe-backed fur, cheek-stuffed snacks, and playful scurrying. For many, they evoke images of tranquil woodlands and innocent wildlife. But beneath their adorable appearance lies their potential to wreak havoc on your property and garden. What starts as a harmless sighting can quickly escalate into a full-blown infestation, leading to costly structural damage, destroyed gardens, and persistent nuisances.

This guide is designed to help homeowners and gardeners understand chipmunk infestations, identify signs of trouble, and take humane yet effective steps to protect your space.

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Identifying a Chipmunk Infestation

Before you set out to address the problem, the first step is to confirm you do, indeed, have a chipmunk infestation. Here are some key signs to look for and where to search for damage:

Common Signs of a Chipmunk Infestation

Burrow entrances: Look for small, clean holes around your home, garden, or yard. Unlike mole holes, these won’t have dirt mounds around the opening.
Damaged plants and bulbs: Chipmunks are notorious for eating flowers, vegetables, and buried bulbs.
Gnaw marks on wires or wood: If you find chewed electrical wires or wooden structures, it could point to a chipmunk problem.
Scattered food: Stored seeds or pet food may suddenly appear disturbed or moved.
Tunnel networks: Check near your home’s foundation or patio for signs of burrowing, as chipmunks can create extensive tunnel systems.

Chipmunk Hideouts to Check

Gardens: Chipmunks often look for food here. Your flower and vegetable beds make an easy target.
Stored food areas: Garages, sheds, and basements with pet food or birdseed are frequent spots for chipmunks.
Foundations and patios: These areas are prime real estate for chipmunks to burrow and nest.

If any of these resonate, it’s time to take action.

Why Chipmunks Are Problematic

While they may seem inconsequential at first, chipmunks are more than just a nuisance. Their presence can lead to significant damage that escalates quickly.

Common Problems Caused by Chipmunks

Structural damage: Chipmunks dig extensive tunnels under sidewalks, patios, and even home foundations, weakening their structural integrity.
Garden destruction: They devour flowers, vegetables, and bulbs, quickly ruining months of effort.
Fire hazards: Chipmunks chew on electrical wires, which can spark fires.
Health risks: They can contaminate stored food with droppings and pests.
Tripping hazards: Their burrow entrances, left uncovered, create risks for unsuspecting walkers.

Chipmunk-Proofing Strategies

The best way to deal with chipmunks is to keep them out of your space in the first place. Prevention is key for long-term success.

Steps to Prevent Chipmunks

Seal entry points: Close cracks in foundations, around pipes, and in walls. Use caulk or steel mesh for durability.
Install barriers: Line decks and patios with hardware cloth or mesh to block burrowing.
Store food securely: Keep birdseed, pet food, and outdoor snacks in airtight containers. Clean up any spills immediately.
Reduce hiding spots: Remove piles of wood, leaves, or other debris near your home. Keep your lawn trimmed and neat.
Protect gardens: Use netting or fences to shield vulnerable plants. Opt for rodent-proof compost bins to deter chipmunks further.

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Humane Chipmunk Removal and Control Methods

Even with thorough prevention, chipmunks may still find their way onto your property. When that happens, humane removal is the most ethical solution.

Chipmunk Trapping and Relocation

In most cases, it is best practice to hire a local wildlife removal company for safe and humane chipmunk trapping and exclusion. Never attempt to touch, harm, trap, or kill a wild animal on your property until you have reviewed local regulations and compliancy standards.

Natural and Safe Repellents

DIY repellents: Make a spray with water, cayenne pepper, and garlic. Apply to gardens or burrow entrances. Reapply after rains.
Commercial repellents: Look for options containing capsaicin, a safe yet effective irritant for chipmunks.
Predator urine: Sprinkle fox or coyote urine around your yard to deter chipmunks naturally.
Scent barriers: Strong smells like peppermint oil or citrus peels are effective deterrents.
Physical barriers: Protect plants by installing sturdy mesh.

When to Call a Professional

If the infestation feels unmanageable, or you have chipmunks somewhere inside an edifice, calling in a Richmond wildlife control service may be your best option. Professionals can take a comprehensive approach, combining exclusion, humane trapping, and habitat adjustments to handle the infestation at its core.

Cost Considerations

Inspection fees: Expect to pay $75 to $200 for an initial assessment.
Trapping and removal: Removal costs range from $100 to $300 per chipmunk.
Exclusion services: Sealing and repairing entry points can cost between $200 and $1,000, depending on damage.
Follow-up visits: Additional visits may incur separate charges.

Balancing Coexistence with Control

Chipmunks might be adorable, but when they overstep into our living spaces, they require attention. By implementing preventative tools, applying humane removal methods, or engaging professional services, you can regain control of your property without harming the surrounding wildlife.

Dealing with a persistent squirrel or chipmunk problem? Contact Virginia Wildlife Pros at 804-292-0156 today for expert animal removal and control service in Richmond, Virginia. With us on the job, you can rest easy knowing your home and garden are protected.

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Full-Service Wildlife Removal and Control Throughout Virginia

Virginia Wildlife Pros is a licensed and insured animal removal and control company committed to providing trusted and reliable wildlife services throughout Richmond, Virginia. Our mission is to provide humane solutions for residential and commercial properties, while keeping people, pets, and the environment safe from unwanted critters. Our value proposition lies in prompt service delivery by knowledgeable professionals and customer-focused strategies that exceed expectations.

We offer our clients animal proofing solutions, animal trapping services, damage repair and remediation, as well as integrated pest management plans tailored to their specific needs. With more than 15 years’ experience in the animal removal and abatement industry, we are dedicated to protecting both property owners and animals with successful outcomes achieved through consideration of all parties – while always putting safety first!

Virginia Wildlife Pros — Serving the Greater Richmond Areas #804-292-0156

We Serve All of Richmond and It’s Surrounding Counties

Our professional wildlife control operators have been serving all of Richmond, Virginia since 2008. We cover areas from Powhatan and Goochland County to New Kent County, Charles City County, and neighboring communities such as Henrico, Glen Allen, Midlothian, Charlottesville, and Mechanicsville. Our licensed and insured animal removal specialists have been the preferred choice of residents and business owners across Central Virginia for protecting their properties and loved ones from wildlife intrusions.

We Know How to Work With All Native Virginia Wildlife Species

At Virginia Wildlife Pros, we specialize in removing native woodland animals and pests in the state using various science backed and EPA approved techniques tailored to each specific species. Our company’s most common methods of wildlife removal and control include trapping, exclusion, habitat modification, repellents, and fumigation.

Trapping is a popular method of wildlife removal that involves setting traps to capture animals such as birds, rodents, squirrels, raccoons, opossum, skunks, or other nuisance wildlife. Types of traps can range from mechanical devices that snap shut when animals enter them to live-catch cages designed to capture only the target animal species. Trapping should be done by experienced professionals so that the animal can be safely removed without harming it or causing unnecessary stress.

Exclusion involves making physical barriers around the perimeter of a property to prevent wildlife from entering. Common materials used for exclusion can include mesh screens on windows and doors as well as fences made out of metal mesh or plastic sheeting around the perimeter of a property. Exclusion should be performed by a professional wildlife control provider that is familiar with the type of animal being excluded so appropriate materials are used for maximum effectiveness.

Habitat modification is another approach used for wildlife removal and control. This technique involves changing the environment around a property in order to make it less attractive to animals such as birds or rodents. This could involve removing overgrown vegetation near homes or cleaning up food sources that may attract certain types of wildlife.

Repellents are substances used to repel certain types of animals from entering an area such as an outdoor space around a home or commercial building. Repellents come in various forms including sprays, granules, electronic devices emitting high frequency sounds, predator urine scents, and even bright lights and ultrasonic devices designed to deter birds or other nuisance wildlife from entering a space without harming them directly.

Fumigation is when poisonous gases are released into an enclosed space in order to kill pests such as termites or rats living within walls or attics/crawl spaces within homes or businesses. Fumigation should only be performed by experienced professionals with knowledge of chemical safety protocols as these chemicals can be hazardous if not used properly. It’s also important that any people living in the home during fumigation process evacuate until the air has been cleared afterwards according to local regulations .

Are you looking for help with nuisance wildlife control management for your home or business in Virginia? Let us take care of it all for you! Contact Virginia Wildlife Pros at 804-292-0156 for professional animal removal and wildlife control in Richmond and its outer regions, today. We serve residential and commercial customers with free quotes, free advice, and quality work.

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Cute but Catastrophic: Dealing with Chipmunk Infestations