Chipmunks may look cute with their puffy cheeks and tiny stripes, but when they take up residency in your garden, they’re more destructive than adorable. These little burrowers love to raid bird feeders, nibble on fruits and veggies, and tunnel through flower beds, leaving behind holes and chewed-up plants in their wake. And while there are plenty of DIY tricks out there, only a few actually work long term. As Nicole Carpenter, a pest control professional and the president of Black Pest Prevention, explains, “The only effective way to make chipmunks leave your garden is to remove what attracts them: easy food and easy access to hiding spots.”
The good news? With the right approach, you can protect your yard without harming wildlife. Ahead, we’ll cover what really makes chipmunks go away, the smells that help keep them out, and why using toxic foods is a big mistake.
What will make chipmunks go away?
If you really want chipmunks gone, it starts with food. “The most effective approach is to cut off their food supply completely,” says Carpenter. They’re hanging around because they’ve found something to snack on, whether it’s spilled birdseed, fallen fruit, or even an open trash bin. Once the easy food disappears, they’ll move on to a new spot—but you’ll need to keep your yard consistently clean or they’ll be right back.
What smells repel chipmunks?
Smells alone won’t solve your chipmunk problem, but they can be part of the solution. “Honestly, if there’s easy food or a cozy hiding spot, hunger will beat any nasty smell,” says Carpenter. But smells can still be effective once you’ve removed any food sources and blocked hiding spots. Granules made from fox, coyote, or bobcat urine work best since they last longer outdoors and tap into a chipmunk’s natural instincts to avoid predators. Peppermint oil, garlic, and cayenne pepper powder can also help, but they need to be reapplied often.
What food is toxic to chipmunks?
Chocolate, salty food, onions, garlic, certain nuts, and alcohol can all be toxic to chipmunks, but Carpenter doesn’t recommend using them as a control method. “You should never use toxic foods to try to kill chipmunks,” she warns. “Not only is it often illegal, but it doesn’t really work anyway because these foods still attract chipmunks and other pests, even if they’re toxic.”
Do chipmunks hate certain plants?
Yes, but it won’t keep them away for good. “Chipmunks don’t like daffodils, garlic, onions, hyacinths, marigolds, lavender, or mint, but these plants don’t scare them off,” says Carpenter. They’ll simply skip over those plants and go straight for your seeds, berries, and tender greens instead.
What’s the most effective way to keep chipmunks out of your yard or garden?
Carpenter says the solution comes down to food and shelter control. She recommends picking up fallen seeds, fruit, and nuts daily, keeping pet food indoors, and storing trash in bins with locking lids. Seal any gaps under decks, sheds, or along your home’s foundation with ¼-inch hardware cloth buried about six inches deep so chipmunks can’t dig through. If you see empty burrows, fill them with gravel or soil, then spread predator urine granules around the yard’s edges to make the space less inviting. By following these easy steps, your uninvited guests will be gone in no time!
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