Dealing with Chipmunks and Squirrels

If you don't know what to do, dealing with chipmunks and squirrels can easily leave you feeling like you are a cartoon character. After all, who hasn't seen those old cartoons where Donald Duck is chasing after the cute and adorable Chip and Dale? While it is fun to watch those cartoons, it certainly isn't fun to live in one. Here are a few methods that you can use to begin dealing with any chipmunks and squirrels that you may have around your property.

• Organic methods. Hot peppers, such as cayenne, red, chili, black, and white peppers are all very good at keeping chipmunks and squirrels away. If you happen to have some bird feeders around your home, then be sure to add a little bit of these to them to help keep these rodents away. In addition, you can also sprinkle their holes with some of this stuff, and you will be amazed at how quickly the chipmunks and squirrels will leave your garden.
• Live trapping. If you are looking for a surefire, and humane, method for dealing with chipmunks and squirrels then you can't really go wrong with live trapping. You can often purchase these traps at home and garden stores, and are really easy to use. Follow the directions, and set the traps near where the rodents like to hang out. When the rodents are trapped, then simply take them somewhere else and release them. No mess, no fuss.
• Keep your yard clean. If you have ever watched those old Chip and Dale Disney cartoons, then you already know chipmunks are extremely aggressive foragers. This means that they will go after any unattended food source. They particularly like items that are contain protein, such as nuts and seeds. This means that you cannot leave any food unattended, and that you perform maintenance properly on your home. Keep an eye out for proper sanitation measures as well, since that can also attract these pesky pests. In short, make sure that your landscape is clean, and free from anything that may attract squirrels and chipmunks.
• Use preventative measures. For those homes that happen to have bird feeders around, be sure to take a rather simple preventative measure. This measure is that you want to keep any and all bird feeders are well away from anywhere that a squirrel can jump onto it. On the average a squirrel or chipmunk can easily jump about five feet, so make sure your feeders are at least that far away. If you are unable to do this, then use other preventative measures such as a squirrel baffle, which will help keep the squirrels away from your seeds. If they can't get to the food, then they will move on to locations where they can.