Chipmunks

 

This year they are everywhere. They seem to be eating the squash plants
I just planted. What do they eat?

Thanks

  galt_57@hotmail.com wrote:


Bird seed...

You could always box trap and relocate them.

I've never been able to bring myself to kill chimpmunks.
They are just too damned cute!

Good box trap bait for rodents is a mix of peanut butter and oatmeal.
--
Om.

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a son-of-a-bitch." -Jack Nicholson

 


galt_57@hotmail.com Wrote:

eating the squash plants

I posted this in a new thread....thought I would repeat it here...

And if the "too cute" thing bothers you....remember they damage your
septic
system, foundation of your house, sidewalks.....and they also
carry diseases
that can be transferred to your pets....and they carry
ticks and fleas....they
are not "cute" to me.....just a brown and big
mouse!

My father and I have found a method or two of control that I thought I
would
share.

These are very pesky animals to us....we live in a very rural midwest
area
surrounded by fields.  They dig lots of tunnels and cause
damage....

The first thing you must do is get rid of your current population.

Note that mothballs, poisons, gasses....or anything like that do not
work at
all.  Niether do the home remedys of chewing gum or castor oil.
From our
experience, trapping (like moles) is THEE only way.

There are live traps and kill traps you can use....some say they work
well.

I personally don't want to drive chipmunks 20 miles away....especially
since i
have already "eliminated" over 20 of them.....in less than 3
months.  So live
traps are out...and the kill traps are expensive.

(Note....this method may not be for the squeemish)


So Dad and I (and a few contribiting sources) have "perfected" this
method

1.) Get an empty watercooler jug w/a cap....I actually use a smaller
one from an
old dog watering thing...its smaller and no cap...but
works.  Keep it filled
with water next to your door.

2.) Watch for the chipmunks....they come out of the tunnels in the
later
afternoon....especially on sunny days....especially 1-4 days
after you mow.

3.) When you spot one....go and get your jug....

4.) Follow the chipmunk to see which tunnel it went into

5.) Put water jug into hole (allowing water to go into hole)

6.) The action of the water will actually pull the chipmunk into the
jug....some
will be too big to fit into the jug....they will drown
trying to get into the
jug.  The others will almost "pop" right into
the jug

7.) Turn jug over and fill with water (but not enough to let chipmunk
out) and
put the cap on.  Chipmunk will eventually drown...then I bury
them.

++++There are ways to speed up the drowning...you will figure that out.
Sometimes...getting them out of the jug is a challenge....you will get
that part
too+++++

After almost 15 years of dealing with them....this controls the problem
better
than anything.....once you have eliminated your current
infestation...

Control the food supply.  They eat anything...but we noticed that
eliminating
bird food really helped.  They loved the seeds.  We also
noted that getting rid
of our "bug zapper" was a good idea...they would
sit underneath it waiting for
food.

I have personally noticed that less chipmunks are present if you keep
your lawn
a little taller (than you may prefer)

This will help keep "new" groups from moving in.


--
johuxm