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Can you offer any advice regarding a chipmunk nuisance? Several years ago I noticed a couple of chipmunks. I'm sure they have multiplied, as I now have many hole tunnels (not mounded like moles) in the front and back yards and I've seen them disappear down these holes. They have also chewed a hole in the rubber weather stripping on the garage door. I've had to move the bird seed inside the house. Any information is greatly appreciated. Patsy
Answer
Hi Patsy. Chipmunks are interesting (and cute)
critters. They actually hibernate in the
winter, and before they hibernate they
gather seeds and stash them away
for later use. Unlike other hibernating
animals that store their food reserves
in the form of body fat, chipmunks do
not. Consequently, it is necessary for
chipmunks to awaken several times
during the winter to eat from the caches
of food they have stored.
Your best option for chipmunk control is
to eliminate their food sources; particularly
bird seed, so they will look elsewhere for
food before they hibernate. Most importantly,
you should delay putting bird seed in your
bird feeders until the winter months, after
Chipmunks have begun hibernation. It is a good
idea to have baffles on the poles of your feeders
because chipmunks (and squirrels) are good climbers.
They are also amazing jumpers, so locate your
bird feeders away from the house. They are especially
fond of sunflower seeds and you want to make sure to
store all seed in chew-proof containers. I hope
this helps.
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About Linda Lillie
Linda K. Lillie is the President of Sprigs & Twigs, Inc, the premier
landscape design and maintenance, tree care, lawn care, stonework, and carpentry
service provider in southeastern Connecticut since 1997. She is a graduate of
Connecticut College in Botany, a Connecticut Master Gardener and a national
award winning landscape designer for her landscape design and landscape installation work.
