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These critters are eating up my garden. I do not want to kill them and they dig tunnels so I do not think fencing will help. They have eaten my zucchini, strawberries and tomatoes. I saw a half eaten green tomato in one of their tunnels today. I blame the neighbor who took her outdoor cat with her when she moved away. We cannot get a cat because my son is allergic.
Over the years I have stopped planting other things that animals eat - e.g. lettuce (rabbits) and corn (squirrels).
For those of you who have had chipmunks, what did you plant that they did NOT like to eat? That is what I will plan on for next year.
The chipmunk population has exploded this year in the Northeast - rats too! I haven't grown edibles for several years, but the chippies didn't used to bother my tomatoes or cukes, which is pretty much what we used to grow. I read in a FB garden group that they may be going for the water content in the tomatoes, so maybe you could try putting out a low bowl of water for them.
I hadn't heard that about water. That would help them but could help breed mosquitoes. Decisions, decisions.
I think it would be OK if you changed the water every day.
I put a little dish with water out. Thanks for the suggestion.
rosarugosa
8-8-20, 10:41am
I put a little dish with water out. Thanks for the suggestion.
Of course they might just drink the water to wash down the tomatoes, but hey, it's worth a shot, especially since it doesn't cost anything!
I noticed Havaheart makes live traps for chipmunks.
But the live trap needs to be emptied, somewhere. We did that with groundhogs for several years, but now we have a trap, then my husband shoots it in the trap, put the body in the meadow and by morning it is gone....not quite sure what takes it or eats it, but some creature is benefiting from our killing. Not something I like to do, but damage to house and shed....
I suspect a good traditional rat trap would be the right size to catch chipmunks and there are a few varieties, but the OP said they did not desire to kill the little critters.
I would be willing to catch and transplant them, but do not know if DS would vehemently object. I have not had a chance to ask him yet.
DS does not object so I will try the have a heart traps next year. I already gave up on this year's and stopped watering it so it is too late for this year. Thanks for the suggestion.
The chipmunks are at it again this year. So far they are only after the strawberries. I am going to try fencing first. The Agways in my area have all closed, so it looks like I will make my first ever trip to the Tractor Supply chain tomorrow after work. Then if that fails or if they start going after other things maybe traps. I already put mothballs all around the garden and it has not helped.
The strawberries are inside a bed bound on the bottom sides by railroad ties that I think they cannot dig through, so maybe fencing will work.
I covered the strawberries so now they or the rabbits ate my dill. It is now covered in netting and I will see if it recovers.
I haven't had pests in my VT garden for the years I've been here. No deer, no chipmunks, no rabbits--nothing. In New Jersey I had all of the above. I wonder if it's because the community is like a golf course. There's not much natural vegetation attracting the critters.
I am planting new perennial stuff every year, and in the back of my mind I wonder if the more I plant, the more likely I'll be to lure garden pests. I say "garden pests" because I actually think chipmunks are adorable. But I do want my garden pest-free. So far so good.
Bunny trouble. I was so tickled to see rabbits again...now the zinnia seedlings are gone...vinca nibbled, so the annuals might just not be prolific this year.
dado potato
6-6-21, 7:14pm
I have a friend who's plagued by chipmunks. He tries to keep the numbers down with humane traps. Every couple days he takes his trapped chipmunks across a bridge and lets them go.
Mind you, there could be equally humane trappers on the other side of the river!
My friend spray paints the chipmunk's tails (green). If some green-tailed critters appear in his yard, then he would know there is a two-way flow of humanely-trapped chipmunks.
My friend spray paints the chipmunk's tails (green). If some green-tailed critters appear in his yard, then he would know there is a two-way flow of humanely-trapped chipmunks.
That is both cute and clever!
Critters know where home is and will return just like dogs do. A friend's DH moved raccoons using a live-trap which kept coming to eat the fish in their garden pond and suddenly he realized that there were more coons than could be controlled. In addition a heron started stopping and fishing in their pond as well. They gave up the fish in the pond and some years later, the pond itself. With the fish gone, the coons and heron no longer were a problem.
I think chipmunks are really cute as well. It is hard to know what to successfully do when they invade a garden.
The chipmunk population has exploded this year in the Northeast - rats too! I haven't grown edibles for several years, but the chippies didn't used to bother my tomatoes or cukes, which is pretty much what we used to grow. I read in a FB garden group that they may be going for the water content in the tomatoes, so maybe you could try putting out a low bowl of water for them.
This year has been very wet but something is still eating my tomatoes. The bites are bigger than a chipmunk would make, unlike last summer. I am now picking them as soon as they get a little orangeish and letting them ripen on my counter.
Maybe a groundhog?
There is also a big tunnel dug near the garden or as my mother calls it their restaurant.
This year has been very wet but something is still eating my tomatoes. The bites are bigger than a chipmunk would make, unlike last summer. I am now picking them as soon as they get a little orangeish and letting them ripen on my counter.
Maybe a groundhog?
There is also a big tunnel dug near the garden or as my mother calls it their restaurant.
Maybe a skunk?
I haven't smelled them but could be. I have seen them in years past.
I bet it's a groundhog...they love tomatoes. We have killed 4 this year using a have a heart trap, then my husband shoots them. We put the body in a groundhog hole in the meadow and by the next day something has taken it away. I would prefer them to just stay away, but they love the club med under the shed....
Per city regulations I cannot harm the wildlife, only try to scare it away. Mothballs worked with a skunk I had under a shed before, but there are mothballs all around the perimeter of my garden this year and it has not helped. No squash though they bloom - I think the tender vegetable is eaten as soon as it appears.
We gave up on planting an edible garden. The tomatoes we get from the grocery store have been wonderful, corn at the fruit stand and all the rest frozen from the grocery store....so much less frustrating. I still do lots of flowers. There are only 2 of us, so the cost is minimal and the labor is nothing for vegetables!
iris lilies
8-19-21, 11:45am
I would be willing to catch and transplant them, but do not know if DS would vehemently object. I have not had a chance to ask him yet.
why in the world is this his decision? Does he take care of the garden?
this is not his business. Are you serious?
That said, read up on catching the little critters and relocating them. Common wisdom is that this is a death sentence for them to put them into a new environment. All you’re saving is your own squeamishness. You’re making yourself feel better.
DH regularly catches tree squirrels which eat up everything in our city garden. He catches then in a Haveaheart trap. Then he dispenses them to squirrel heaven with a pellet rifle bullet in their head.
When he caught the big critter a few years ago, the woodchuck that was decimating crops, He was unable to shoot that guy. So he drove him to the riverbank and let him out. We have no idea if it would’ve been kinder to put a bullet in his head or not. That funny woodchuck guy was eating all during the time he was in the have a heart trap and being driven to the river bank. You would think most wild animals would be to paralyzed with fear to eat but not this chubby man.
DH Will happily shoot adult rabbits with a pellet gun, but will not kill nests of babies.
We all have our limits.
IL at the time I wrote last year that he was still helping me with some things.
Now there is one in the house. Left a note for DS to move his boxes out of the room where I heard it so I can try to see how it is getting in there and seal up the entry point with pest block. I hear it inside at night and outside during the day.
I also have some mouse traps so may try them - though I am reading rat traps are a better size.
This could take a while - methodically removing insulation in the basement to see where the opening is, etc.
We do have chipmunks, but the only things they nibble on are the strawberries. They don't bother me otherwise. I grow lettuce, zucchini, squash, tomatoes, cucumbers, strawberries, apples, pears, and lots of herbs.
My yard is covered with their holes and tunnels. When the neighbor with a cat moved away their population got totally out of control. They definitely outnumber the rabbits now.
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