We’re here to help take the guesswork out of the topic: “how to fill Chipmunk holes”. Read on to learn more about Chipmunks and the best ways to fill the holes they leave behind.
They might be cute cartoon characters, but chipmunks can become the bane of your existence. These cheeky creatures love digging holes and taking names.
You might have liked Alvin, Simon, and Theodore from the cartoon series. But, these little rascals are not cute when they’re chewing your plants or turning your yard into a game of Whack-A-Mole. Now you know why Dave was always screaming “Alvin!”
If you see three-inch-wide holes in your yard, it’s probably chipmunk’s handy work. If you don’t stop them, they’ll turn your once emerald, green carpet into a mushy quagmire that’ll fall apart.
If you’re facing an invasion and looking for a way to stop these squirrel wannabes from digging holes everywhere, our guide will help you. In our easy-to-follow article, you’ll:
- learn a little bit about chipmunks
- know what chipmunk holes look like
- discover some humane ways to evict chipmunks from your property
- identify some natural chipmunk repellent
- learn how to fill chipmunk holes
By the end of the article, you’ll gain a complete understanding of how to fill chipmunk holes and keep them away for good.
What Are Chipmunks?
If you ever watched a boxing match, a professional boxer studies their challenger. This gives them an edge at fight night. It makes the difference between delivering a knockout punch or being on the receiving end of one.
Like anything else you come face to face with, knowing your opponent is crucial. If you know a thing or two about chipmunks, you’ve already won half the battle.
Here are a few facts about chipmunks you probably didn’t know. Use this knowledge to get the upper hand at the battle for your lawn:
How To Spot One?
Chipmunks are rodents and members of the squirrel family. You’ll know you’re looking at one thanks to their distinct bushy tails. Their tails have a shade of yellow, grey, or brown with black and white stripes running down their backs.
Their broad and short legs give them the power to burrow through and underneath the ground. There are over 25 species, and many can be found almost anywhere along with forestry areas.
How Big Are They?
So, how big do they get? It depends on the species. Generally, chipmunks are smaller than squirrels. At most, they can grow up to be 7 or 8 inches while their tails expand as far as 3 or 5 inches. Some species of chipmunks can grow as big as 11 inches.
Where Can You Find Them?
The Siberian Chipmunk is the only chipmunk you won’t find in the United States. As for the rest, you’ll find them in any wooded area. They feel the most comfortable hiding in logs, crawling around trees, roaming over patches of rocks, and other shrubby areas.
You’ll run into them in urban forests, some parks, and sometimes in your backyard.
What Do Chipmunks Eat?
Since they’re omnivores, they’ll munch on pretty much anything they find. For hibernation, they love to gather their favorites like berries, seeds, corn, grains, insects, nuts, plant roots, and more. Foods they can’t eat include anything processed such as chocolate, bread, sugar, etc.
What they can’t stand are citrus, strong essential oils like peppermint, and other scents. This is your secret weapon when planning your attack. We’ll dive deeper into natural repellents later.
Chipmunk Behavior
If “I don’t like people or other living things” were an animal, it would be chipmunks. Chipmunks are the antisocial animal of their family tree. They are lone wanders and avoid their kind until the mating season in early spring.
At an early age, they become independent. Since they are basically “lone wolves,” their senses are on overdrive. They are speedy and evasive. To avoid nocturnal predators, they’re active during the day.
In late Fall, they begin the process of hibernation. Just like squirrels, their bulky legs give them the speed to avoid anything that wants to harm them.
Chipmunks also speak, sort of. They don’t sing like the gang from “Alvin and the Chipmunks,” but they do have a screeching chirp to call out potential mates or warn of impending danger.
Habits
Chipmunks dig holes for two reasons. The most obvious reason is creating a viable survival bunker. This is where they’ll stockpile food and raise their kids for the entirety of two weeks or so.
If you don’t watch out, they’ll build a little empire of expansive tunnels. You’ll be the unhappy owner of a little subway just for chipmunks.
Sometimes though, chipmunks build shallow holes for temporary protection or shelter for more day-to-day adventures. When they’re comfortable in one spot, they won’t venture far from it. Knowing this is key to removing chipmunks from your property.
What Do Chipmunk Holes Look Like?
How do you know you’re looking at a hole made by a chipmunk? First, let’s start with some bad news. These holes are only about 2 or 3 inches wide. These holes can be hard to see and make an already annoying problem harder than it needs to be (thanks nature).
What makes them hard to spot is how chipmunks cover them. Chipmunks pull off a David Blaine-like illusion by perfectly masking every entrance. By carrying debris and mulch, they’re able to blend the entrances with your landscape.
Not all hope is lost!
Although they’re hard to spot, you can usually find chipmunk holes near your plants, potted flowers, shrubs, and trees. Keep in mind, chipmunk holes weaken the foundation of your property. So, if you’re walking around and feel like the floor is sinking, you’ve likely stepped on one.
How To Fill Chipmunk Holes
Chipmunk burrowing into your landscape will turn it into a mush, swampy quagmire. It weakens the integrity of your foundation and can even cause damage to your home.
You’ll see cracking, weakened slabs, and in extreme cases, the water damage that seeps into your home. In addition, your garden is an open buffet for them. Worse of all, having them on your property only attracts other predators like snakes who search for these rodents.
Let’s go over some ways to fill and stomp out these chipmunk holes for the sake of your property and peace of mind:
1) Gravel and Pebbles
Using Fine Gravel is effective at plugging chipmunk holes. It also works well to prevent them from digging one the first place. This is especially true when using gravel around your property and near plants.
When used on grass, it allows water to flow through it. This keeps your roots safe and helps them receive the necessary nutrition. Plus, it’s great for soil retention, it’s safe to place near your plants, and doesn’t attract other nearby pests. More importantly, it makes it hard for chipmunks to climb out of or push aside.
2) Cat Litter
Want to stop chipmunks from visiting your property and fill holes they made on your property? Use cat litter. For chipmunks, cat litter is like climbing Mount Everest. It’s very hard for them to push through and sinks into the holes seamlessly.
If you’re using this option, make sure to get non-clay cat litter. Not only are they good for filling holes, but they’re also eco-friendly.
The downside is it’s not pretty to look at and it should only be used as a temporary solution. Consider applying dirt over the cat litter so that it doesn’t look like a pet cemetery.
3) Sand
Another good option is sand. Any local hardware store will sell inexpensive sand you can use to cover holes. Unlike cat litter or even gravel, it’s easier to dump out.
Keep in mind, Sand doesn’t retain nutrients for your grass. Applying sand should be sporadic and used on the grass in low-level areas. If you have a pretty healthy lawn, consider using the other recommended options as sand does affect your lawn’s ability to grow over time or if used too often.
How To Get Rid Of Chipmunks Humanely?
Getting rid of chipmunks humanely requires patience. Setting traps is arguably the best way to catch and release them (far away from your property, of course).
We recommend you buy traps from Havahart. They create humane traps that are designed specifically for chipmunks. Other types of rodent traps work just as well.
Another great alternative is electronic repellents. How effective they are is up for debate, but some swear on their powers.
You spike one of these bad boys on the ground and they’ll emit ultrasonic pulses. This causes a piercing sound in chipmunk ears and drives them away. It’s even great for keeping other pests away.
Essentially, removing chipmunks humanely requires a combination of baiting, trapping, and carefully escorting them off your premises.
Best Chipmunk Repellent and Natural Chipmunk Repellent
According to some entomologists and pest control experts, certain repellents work best against chipmunks.
These lab-tested products work are the ones we’ll share with you. We’re also sharing some natural chipmunk repellent that you can pair with other top market products.
This bad boy is perfect for prevention and deterrence. This product is safe to use and is free of petroleum. The main ingredient is farm-sourced peppermint. This is the ideal product for keeping rodents away from your property.
This product also contains safe ingredients. It has a concoction of cinnamon, peppermint, and other oils that chipmunks hate. Repel and safeguard your property with the trusted Ortho brand.
This is a more aggressive product. Bonide induces inflammation in a chipmunk’s nasal passage and causes some congestion. Thankfully, the symptoms go away in minutes, but it’s strong enough to deter any wandering pest or rodent. Keep in mind, this can affect your pets too. So, consider if this is the right product for you.
You can use it just about anywhere. It doesn’t harm your plants and keeps pests at bay, particularly chipmunks. It can be used inside and outside. It can be sprayed all over your property and contains the right ingredients for repelling chipmunks.
Other Natural Chipmunk Repellents
Chipmunks hate anything citrus. They’re mortal foes of garlic, peppermint, citrus, and even cinnamon. Gather essential oils and water and place them in a spray bottle. Then spray your plants with any combination of these scents. Keep in mind, the scent can eventually ward off and lose its efficacy. So, use as a short-term solution.
In conclusion…
We hope this article has helped you figure out how to fill chipmunk holes. Use a combination of these methods to keep your yard Chipmunk-free.