|
|
When Good Chipmunks Go Bad
For the most part, chipmunks cause few problems and are fun to watch as they go about their business finding a place to live and food to eat. But sometimes their idea of where to live and what to eat can interfere with humans. Chipmunks can get into places where they're not wanted such as garages, storage sheds, basements, attics and chimneys. The best way to avoid these problems is to try to prevent them from happening in the first place.
Chipmonks (and other rodents) look for safe, quiet, dark places to nest in and eat a variety of foods. Strawberries are a favorite chipmonk snack in my garden. They also look for cover from predators. Keeping these things in mind, here are a few tips to keep chipmonks from becoming a nuisance:
Look for small holes and cracks or space under doors. It doesn't take much room for rodents to enter. Are there holes where pipes enter your house? If you can't fill the hole with something permanent like concrete, try steel wool. Put rubber sweeps on the bottoms of doors.
Keep food in metal cans or plastic bins. Remember, grass seed, garden seed and drying vegetables or flower bulbs might tempt rodents.
Use something smelly like deoderant soap, human hair or dog hair as a warning. You have to change it often to keep the smell fresh.
Prune trees and bushes so that they don't provide easy entrance from the roof.
Use screen wire to prevent access under fences or into crawl spaces under houses or porches. You'll need to bury about six inches to a foot so they can't dig under.
Put wire cloth over planted bulbs use wire with half inch holes so the plants can get through.
Get a dog or a cat.
How Do You Get Rid of Them Once You've Got Them?
Indoors, try bright lights and loud music to make your house an unpleasant habitat. Make sure they have a way to get out.
If a chipmunk, or any wild animal or bird, gets in the house and is trying to get out, don't try to catch it and risk getting bit. Shut all doors and windows except the best exit for the animal. Shut off all lights except the one that leads to a door or window where they can exit. Leave the room. People or pets will only panic the animal.
Lure them into a no-kill trap such as Hav-a-hart. Peanut butter makes a good bait.
Call your local Department of Natural Resources or a licensed animal rehabilitator (see links). State or County Parks Departments may have an expert also. These are also good people to call if you find an injured animal or babies left behind when a mother is killed.
Be carefull of pest control companies. Many of them simply kill the animal once it's removed.
If you have captured and plan to release an animal somewhere else--think first. What time of year is it? In spring the animal may have a nest of young somewhere. Since chipmunks hibernate, they have to have a store of food for winter. Relocating them at the wrong time may mean they starve. Consult a wildlife specialist.
If You Find Baby Animals or an Injured Animal
Return babies to their nest if possible
Be sure the parents won't be returning before moving babies. They may just be out looking for food. Rabbits, for example, leave their young alone except when nursing to avoid predators finding them.
If you have to care for young, keep them warm and away from pets. Call DNR, a wildlife rehabilitator, or veterinarian. If you need to feed them before you can get hold of an expert, try an eye dropper and milk packaged for puppies and kittens. Many grocery stores and pet stores carry these products.
Injured animals can be dangerous, biting out of fear. There is also the risk that a sick animal has rabies or some other contagious desease. Keep children and pets away and call an expert.
In Most States It Is Illegal to Keep Wild Animals as Pets!
Most wild animals make poor pets anyway. There instincts tell them to fear humans. In some countries such as England and Japan, chipmunks are kept as pets, but these are a domesticated variety that are not captured from the wild.
If you want a pet rodent, Guinnea pigs and domesticated fancy rats make great pets. By the way, rats are very social,highly intelligent, don't usually bite intentionally and can be taught tricks*. However, unless you plan to spend a lot of time with your rat, get two of the same sex preferably at the same time.. They don't like being alone. Hamsters are generally less social than Guinnea pigs and rats.
*My pet rats only bit when they thought your fingers were giving them food through the cage bars.(Rats have poor eyesight.) As soon as they realized that it was a finger and not food, they let go and would lick the finger instead. One of my cats even let the rats wash his ears! Domestic rats don't have a natural fear of other animals.
When Good Chipmunks Go Bad
ECHOLOCO HOME | | CHIPMONK TAYLES HOME | | DIRECTORY
