Chipmunks are one of the cutest rodents you’ll ever see, but they’re also the most dangerous. They are omnivorous, North American and Asian indigenous that eat up anything from beneficial insects to buds, bulbs and other garden plantings. Heck, even their deep burrows might damage your house’s structure while they flee first to avoid humans.
Fortunately, you can deter rodents from your property and, if required, humanely remove them. Start with easy, natural deterrents and work your way up to more severe—but still humane measures if necessary to send the bad ones fleeing.
In this post, I’ll walk you through 7 main tricks you can put into place to get rid of chipmunks in your garage. Besides, I’ll give you some of the reasons why they are such a menace. But before that, let’s find out what may attract chipmunks to your garage. Shall we?
What Attracts Chipmunks to the Garage?
Chipmunks have currently become a severe problem for many individuals. They are little rodents with stripes on their backs that distinguish them from other rodents like squirrels. Chipmunks may appear cute at first, but if they are allowed to roam freely in your garage, they can cause havoc.
They eat a wide variety of foods, including buds, fruits, nuts, seeds, plant matter, grass, shoots, insects, worms, bird eggs, frogs, and much more. Chipmunks are known to devour small birds in some cases. Their presence in your garage can be a nightmare causing a vast problem.
Why Are Chipmunks Such a Problem?
You would think that because of chipmunks’ small stature, they aren’t much of a threat. However, you’d be mistaken because they can do far more damage than their diminutive stature would suggest. The best they can do in your yard is dig several burrows, kill all of your plants, and create a lot of damage.
What’s more, if they manage to get access, they can quickly make themselves at home within the walls of your house. If you don’t act swiftly and decisively, they could cause big problems. Provided you’ve ever seen one, you’ll recall observing it cramming its cheeks with food. It’s what they do when they want to save food for the winter.
During the winter seasons, chipmunks like to hibernate. They enjoy digging underground tunnels—sleeping and eating the food they stockpile during the summer. If you’re not attentive, you might find these caves in the foundation of your house.
The actual issue is that they enjoy multiplying at a breakneck pace. When it comes to reproducing, chipmunks put rabbits to shame. They’ll be in your garage and then in your house’s structure before you realize, inflicting significant harm to the inside gaps and voids.
Chipmunks can potentially cause damage to your car since it’s usually warm, enabling them to stay with comfort—they are known to gnaw right through the cables. They avoid residing in their deep tunnels during the colder months. As a result, they seek refuge above the ground where there is warmth.
You may not realize it, but the engine remains warm for a time after you turn off the ignition and enter your home. It transforms the automobile into a beautiful living space. Besides, they also enjoy gnawing on wires whenever they have the opportunity. It helps to keep their teeth in good shape, especially as they get older.
In addition, they are curious creatures—they will want to investigate a notch if they discover cables hanging from your car’s undercarriage.
Chipmunks are a nuisance, and therefore it’s critical to keep them out of your garage by acting quickly. You may get rid of them in your garage using a variety of techniques. But first, you must determine the source of the infestation.
All that said, let’s now go through some of the ways you can implement to get rid of chipmunks.
7 Effective Ways to Get Rid of Chipmunks in the Garage
1. Use Coffee Grounds
The use of coffee grounds is one of the perfect ways you can apply to deter chipmunks into your garage. Because they rely on their noses to recognize food and navigate, the pungent odor of coffee grounds will irritate them and discourage them from approaching.
Coffee grounds can be purchased at a store or obtained for free from most coffee cafes. Simply inquire about used coffee grounds. Sprinkle the environment surrounding your yard and any nesting spots where the chipmunks have taken up residence. Because of the strong perfume, chipmunks will never move close.
The use of coffee grounds to eradicate chipmunks is a low-cost, natural, and effective method. Coffee ground is one of the methods I have personally tried out and found to be effective. Only the most tenacious chipmunks remained when the chipmunks gradually vanished.
It’s an excellent way to keep chipmunks out of your garage. However, you’ll need to use substantial grounds—choose the ones with the most pungent odors. To help drive them out, sprinkle some coffee grounds around your garage.
2. Use a Cat Litter
Another option for getting rid of chipmunks is using cat litter. They are terrified of cats and prefer to keep a safe distance from them. Chipmunks are preyed upon by various predators, including foxes, coyotes, cats, and owls. These creatures, by their very nature, prefer to flee anytime they smell them close by.
Either way, you can also use urine pellets from a coyote or a fox if you have any on hand. People who have a cat at home will find this to be simple. Simply leaving the cat’s litter tray in your garage for a few days, especially if there is any residue, will cause them to flee.
Additionally, mothballs are a good deterrent for chipmunks. The stench perturbs them, and sooner they’ll discover that the garage isn’t as pleasant as they anticipated.
Most pet owners are apprehensive about placing mothballs on the floor. They will, however, remain out of reach of your pets if you keep them in a container with a few small holes. The odor will linger in the garage, which is what you need to make the chipmunks run away from your garage.
Aside from that, there are a variety of natural ways to get rid of chipmunks. Below are some basic cures that you can attempt to find a cost-effective solution to this problem and don’t want to spend a lot of money dealing with this infestation.
3. Use Peppermint Oil Keep Chipmunks Away
Peppermint oil is well-known for being a potent, effective and essential oil. Chipmunks, moles, skunks, and even field mice are all attracted to this oil. To produce your repellent, mix 2-3 drops of peppermint oil with a cup of water.
Outside the house, sprinkle the solution into any voids, cracks, or crevices—spray trash, trees, shrubs, pet food places, bird feeders, and even the chipmunk nest. To keep the aroma fresh, reapply the peppermint oil every day.
Spraying near dogs and people who are allergic to it is not a good idea. It can be spread around the edge of your garage and used to line the entire space.
4. Use Mothballs
It’s also a good idea to use mothballs to get rid of chipmunks and keep them away. Mothballs emit a chemical called naphthalene. Chipmunks dislike the odor of naphthalene and are readily repelled by it—chipmunks are extremely sensitive to scents, as we’ve already discovered.
When the fragrance of mothballs is allowed to disperse freely, it is most effective. Chipmunks tend to flee after irritating odor spreads through their nest. You should keep in mind that they prefer to build their nests in smaller spaces and so the scent will quickly extend all over.
Mothballs should never be used in the house since naphthalene is a poisonous chemical that can be dangerous if kept in an intimate setting with inadequate ventilation.
If you’re uncertain about using mothballs, there are a variety of different options. Many individuals opt to use organic and natural techniques to eliminate chipmunks, so you have a wide range of choices.
5. Use Electronic and Liquid Repellents
Chipmunks and deer, raccoons, rabbits, and squirrels can be scared off by an electronic repellent system that uses ultrasonic pulses or water sprays. A top-rated, high-quality, non-toxic electronic pest repeller costs $20 to $30 and can cover 900 to 1,200 square feet with a safe, steady power source.
In addition, keep in mind that sound waves and water sprays will not dislodge chipmunk burrows or nests, as some people may believe.
Buy a non-toxic commercial product like Rodent Defense Spray or make a DIY solution with a quart of boiled water and two tablespoons of cayenne pepper; add two tablespoons of olive oil once it’s cooled.
Before spraying directly on contaminated areas, store in a labeled spray bottle and shake well. Chipmunks may take some time to come into close touch with the unpleasant substance, so reapplication and patience are required. eliminating
6. Try Juicy Fruit Gum
Juicy Fruit Gum—readily accessible in practically any market—can also be used to drive chipmunks away. The scent attracts them, but the gum clogs their digestive system, causing them to die.
It’ll do the work if you put a few unwrapped Juicy Fruit gum sticks near their nest and around your garage. However, this is a complex procedure that you can avoid.
If you have to, use it as a last resort. More significantly, you should be aware that different people have had different experiences with this method. Some individuals say that Juicy Fruit is effective, while others believe it is ineffective in getting rid of chipmunks. It’s best to stick with passive tactics because they’re the most effective.
7. Leverage Cayenne Pepper
Cayenne pepper is one of the most widely used spices globally, and it’s available in almost every home, particularly in kitchens where people enjoy preparing a variety of dishes. It’s unquestionably one of the most potent repellents for immediately resolving your chipmunk problem. Chipmunks despise the pepper’s fiery flavor, and they usually flee as soon as they smell it.
The remarkable aspect is that you can use cayenne pepper in so many different ways. Here are some easy ways to get rid of chipmunks with cayenne pepper
It’s a great, cheap and simple idea to make a bottle of cayenne pepper spray. All you need is a spray bottle you can quickly get from your local store, as well as cayenne pepper and water.
Add a spoonful to one cup of water after grinding the pepper. You can always enhance the mixture’s potency if you desire, then just fill your spray bottle with the mixture. It may have a peculiar odor while spraying your garage, but it will do the trick. Make sure to spread the bottoms of the shelves as well as the corners before closing the door.
Give it a few days to work its magic, and you’ll discover that most of the chipmunks have fled your garage by the time you return. Because there are bound to be a few stragglers, the best course of action in this circumstance is just to spray a little more.
Bottom Line
Chipmunks in your home can wreak a lot of damage since they devour almost anything they find—their razor-sharp teeth can eat through even the toughest of materials. If you detect a chipmunk in your home, you’ll want to get rid of it for a variety of reasons. The most crucial reason to get it out is for sanitary reasons.
Additionally, they are attacked by fleas and know what bacteria are in their excrement, which they drop randomly. Not to mention their devastating nature—drilling holes in your residence to gain access.