The Best Chipmunk Repellents

Chipmunk repellents are included in many different products designed to keep large and small animals away from your property. Animal deterrents generally use various mechanisms to scare off rodents and other small mammals. The most popular ways to deter chipmunks involve the use of offensive odors that the animal thinks taste or smell bad.

When it comes to finding the best chipmunk repellent to keep pests out of your yard and property, each type of deterrent has its own advantages and disadvantages.

• Natural spray deterrents use strong natural smells to either scare away pests or make plants taste bad. Natural pest sprays have the advantage of not harming the environment. They aren’t toxic to pets or humans. You may need to reapply the repellent after rainfall, though. Depending on the size of your property, it can be expensive to use these natural sprays to keep out chipmunks.
• Urine granules and liquids can be effective because most small animals rely on their sense of smell to alert them to danger. If they pick up the scent of a bobcat, coyote, fox, or another predator, the rodents will scurry away as fast as they can. It can also take trial and error to find the right scent to scare away the pests in your garden, though.
• Ultrasonic pest repellents are often the product of choice for homeowners that want to protect a large area. Solar-powered ultrasonic deterrents need very little maintenance. They can stop damage to lawns, flower beds, and other areas where plants grow. All you have to do is place them at strategic places in your yard and switch them on. The feedback on the effectiveness of some ultrasonic devices is mixed, though. It may take trial and error to find the perfect one to use on chipmunks.

Who Needs Natural Chipmunk Repellents?

Many consumers who are concerned about the impact of chemicals on the environment look for natural ways to deter pests, such as chipmunks, rats, mice, and other animals. A 2013 report found that many pesticides designed to protect plants and crops find their way into the food chain. Using toxic chemicals to control pests also destroys the natural ecosystem, changing the natural microbial diversity.

Another reason to look for products that repel small mammals naturally is that these deal with pests in a more humane way. Setting traps that kill chipmunks leaves the homeowner with the problem of disposing of the dead animals. There’s also the risk that these types of traps could cause unwanted damage or injure pets.

Using repellents to keep chipmunks away from your property is necessary if you grow your own vegetables and flowers or don’t want your plants destroyed. There have even been reports of chipmunks burrowing under property foundations causing expensive structural damage! Natural repellents help create an unpleasant environment for chipmunks, squirrels, and other small mammals. They will then move on to greener pastures instead of destroying your property.

There’s another important reason to deter chipmunks from your property. Chipmunks, like most rodents, carry diseases. The journal PLOS ONE reported that chipmunks carry various diseases that they can pass on to humans, including Lyme disease.

How effective are the natural products that use odor to scare pests away from your yard? There are two types of products that are popular when it comes to rodent repellents: predator urine and offensive scents.

Chipmunk Repellent Natural Sprays

Just as certain smells are offensive to humans, there are certain odors and scents that animals dislike. The purpose of natural spray repellents is to cover areas with odors that will keep animals away.

Many of the natural animal deterrent sprays on the market are nontoxic. This means you can use them to repel animals from the fruit and vegetables that you will want to eat later on.

There’s actually some scientific evidence to suggest that these scent sprays are effective. Scientists have studied various scents to identify what repels chipmunks best. Research has shown that eucalyptus oil has a repelling effect on rodents. Other studies have revealed that rodents don’t like the smell of peppermint, wintergreen oil, or bergamot oil. Irritants like chili powder and black pepper can also send these pests scurrying away.

Urine Granules to Deter Chipmunks

Urine granules and liquid urine use the fear factor to keep chipmunks off your property. The scent of a predator’s urine can be a strong deterrent for small mammals who depend on their sense of smell to survive.

In some ways, urine granules work like the deterrent pest sprays. They create an environment that keeps small mammals from coming near. But it may take some trial and error to find a type of urine granule that works on the pesky chipmunks where you are.

For example, one study into the effects of predator odors to scare off gray squirrels found that not all predator scents worked the same. The researchers compared the odors of raccoons, deer, red foxes, and humans. In this experiment, the scientists found that raccoon and red fox urine were more effective than the other odors.

Electronic Chipmunk Repellents

The best part of using ultrasonic chipmunk repellents is that they won’t require much maintenance. Sonic waves and underground vibrations unsettle chipmunks, teaching them to stay away. You can also install ultrasonic repellents inside your home and vehicles to keep rodents from causing damage there.

Many homeowners have successfully repelled chipmunks and other critters with these devices, even though studies as to their effectiveness have been inconclusive. The University of Nebraska found that rodent repellents were effective in reducing pest numbers by up to 50%. Other studies show that well-placed ultrasonic devices are effective at getting rid of unwanted critters.

What Chipmunk Repellents Can These Natural Ones Replace?

Natural chipmunk repellents that use ultrasonic waves, offensive odors, or predator urine are effective ways to avoid using toxic chemical or inhumane traps.

In many ways, natural, eco-friendly deterrents are a better choice than their toxic counterparts. Some websites recommend using mothballs to prevent a chipmunk invasion. But mothballs may or may not deter chipmunks and other rodents. They also contain toxic chemicals that can poison our pets. There have even been cases of mothball fumes causing adverse reactions in humans.

What If Natural Pest Deterrents Don’t Work?

There is plenty of anecdotal evidence that shows that using electronic chipmunk repellents, natural sprays, and urine granules work for many people. They may not work in every case, though.

So, would you like to know some alternatives to natural chipmunk repellents? You could try putting humane traps around your property to help control the chipmunk population. These traps require constant maintenance. You’re also still left with the problem of releasing the chipmunk back into the wild, far away from your property.

You could also allow your cat or dog roam around your property, as a natural deterrent. This may not be an option for everyone, especially if there are animals that prey on pets in your area.

To increase the effectiveness of chipmunk repellents, it’s important to use the product as the manufacturer intended. You will need to reapply most odor-based repellents at specific intervals, so you should check the instructions.

You should place ultrasonic repellents at strategic places around your property to ensure total coverage. It may be necessary to check the charge of the solar batteries every 2 weeks or so, especially if there has not been much sunshine.

Natural Spray Repellents

To find the best natural spray repellent for chipmunks, you should read user reviews about the specific pest you want to deter. Look for products that contain peppermint oil, garlic oil, and an irritant such as pepper or chili powder. If you have a large area to cover, a large multi-gallon container is a very cost-effective option.

Urine Granules

If you want to try using urine granules to keep chipmunks off your property, then read user reviews to see if they have been effective on chipmunks. Certain predator scents may or may not repel chipmunks in your area since this will depend on the surrounding habitat.

Ultrasonic Chipmunk Repellents

The best ultrasonic wave repellents use weatherproof materials and are solar powered. Look for repellents that send out frequent bursts of ultrasonic waves. Some of the best units send out 3- to 4-second signals every 20-30 seconds. You also need to buy enough units to cover your property. So, it may be cheaper to buy a multipack with 4-6 units to cover your entire property.

Additional Useful Information About Chipmunk Deterrents

The main reason to keep chipmunks off your property is that they are very destructive creatures. Experts say that chipmunk burrows can even cause structural damage to buildings. So, you definitely don’t want them burrowing near your home!

Have you ever wondered where some manufacturers get a bobcat, coyote, fox, and even mountain lion urine from? These producers usually buy the urine from zoos, sanctuaries, or farms, where it’s collected in drains. In many cases, selling wild animal urine creates valuable income for these places.

Having one or two chipmunks on your property can result in a lot of damage to your plants, lawn, yard, and even home. Natural chipmunk repellents help deter these pesky rodents before they can cause havoc. Repellents that stop rodents naturally are also effective solutions if you care about the environment and want to avoid using toxic chemicals.

To wrap things up, here are the best chipmunk repellents:

1. Exterminator’s Choice Rodent Defense Spray is a great non-toxic solution for your chipmunk problem. The natural ingredients help deter chipmunks without harming the soil, vegetation, or pets. This is a great all-around solution to keep small animals off your property. It’s also safe to use indoors.
2. The Bobcat P-Cover Urine Granules from Pee Mart are one of the best products that use natural predator odors to scare off chipmunks. This 100%-natural product comes in a granular formula that’s easy to apply and doesn’t have an offensive smell for humans.
3. The Apello Solar Chipmunk Repellents stakes will begin deterring chipmunks after a week or two and can completely eradicate them in the space of two months. They’re also effective against other rodents and require very little maintenance.