Do the Different Types Of Chipmunk Repellents Work?

Need chipmunk removal in your hometown? We service over 500 USA locations! Click here to hire us in your town and check prices - updated for year 2020.

There are actually a number of ‘chipmunk repellents’ on the market, but, just as with repellents for bother nuisance wildlife, we definitely recommend that you take the success stories you read with a pinch of salt. Repellents usually don't have the best success rate, and definitely not when they are the only method of animal control used. The best thing to do when you have a problem with wild animals on your land is use multiple methods of attack. This could mean adding fencing along with repellents, and also having a good old clear up in the back yard at the same time. Using repellents on their own just spells disaster. All the time you are NOT getting rid of these animals, they're creating burrows under your home or land that could seriously affect the structure and foundations of any buildings, including the one you live in.



Electronic Repellents for Chipmunks
These can come in a number of different formats, but one of the most popular chipmunk electronic repellents or deterrents is one that sprays a small burst of water when the motion detection system picks up on movement from a wild animal. This can actually work to keep a number of wild critters at bay, but there are both pros and cons that you’ll need to take into consideration before you use it.

Suitable for making sure that chipmunks are kept away from areas such as garbage cans, trees, flower beds, lawns, pools, paths, ponds, and more, they can have great success when they are put in the perfect spot. That’s where some of the cons come into play, sadly. Chipmunks are very small animals and there’s a good chance they can zip past the device without setting off the motion sensor. The sensor itself will only be able to cover a certain area, and the type you buy will have an effect on the kind of area you're looking at. If the animal doesn’t come within reach of that sensor area, the device will be pointless.

Other pros for using electronic repellents to keep chipmunks away are:
They can be moved, therefore, surprising the anima. If the chipmunk (or other wild critter) gets used to the device being in one place and chooses to take another path, boycotting it, you can move the device to follow the animal. You won't need to harass the animal for long in this manner before it finally gives up, frustrated and probably very tired.

They’re safer than other forms of nuisance wildlife repellent. You won’t be relying on any chemicals or dangerous/toxic ingredients. They work using water, and water can’t really harm a wild animal. In fact, that brings us nicely to another con — some animals actually appreciate this burst of water. Raccoons, for example, have been watched ‘dancing’ in the streams let off by sprinklers.

One final pro that we would like to mention is that they can often work for more than one animal, provided they are put in the right spot. As well as potentially working to keep chipmunks at bay, the water-squirting device can also keep out deer, groundhog, raccoons, squirrels, skunks, opossums, cats, dogs, birds, rabbits, and more.

Bad-Taste Repellents
Of course, electronic repellents can be an expensive option. Some of them are solar powered, but if they’re not, you’ll need to look at how much it will cost you to have the system running, after you have purchased it. You may choose to use a bad-taste repellent instead of or alongside your electric chipmunk repellents.

These usually come in the form of liquids that can be sprayed around certain areas to protect them, or granules, which can be sprinkled around various areas to protect them. The liquid tends to be the better option for protecting small spaces, with the granules used over a larger surface area.

Both liquids and granules will need to be reapplied, and this is more so the case with liquids, and after rain or watering. There are certain other specifications for each. The liquids, for example, don't work in very cold temperatures, and granules can be unsightly. Not to mention the fact that other wildlife may choose to eat them and that's probably not great for their health. Either way, reapplication is necessary, and the more you buy, the higher the cost will be. On top of this, if you need to cover a larger surface area, you will need to buy more of the product.

As a general rule, pepper-based repellents for chipmunks are considered to be the better option. It is this peppery taste that they are said not to enjoy, and you will find many repellents on the market have this as their main ingredient.

Chipmunk Repellents - Conclusion
As a final word, we would like to point out that success with chipmunk repellents can be incredibly varied. Some homeowners have had little to no success with them, whereas other homeowners swear by them. We can’t really say that we’ve had the best success with any kind of nuisance wildlife repellent on the market, or any homemade remedies. Regardless of whether you choose repellents or not, you must incorporate different methods of attack to get rid of wild animals, including chipmunks.

Read my How to Get Rid of Chipmunks guide.
For more information, you may want to click on one of these guides that I wrote:
How To Guide: Who should I hire? - What questions to ask, to look for, who NOT to hire.
How To Guide: do it yourself! - Advice on saving money by doing wildlife removal yourself.
Guide: How much does wildlife removal cost? - Analysis of wildlife control prices.