How to Get Chipmunk Out of House: Safe Removal

• Respectful
• Cautious

Friendly, Encouraging

It can be unsettling to discover a furry little intruder sharing your living space. A humane approach is essential when considering how to get chipmunk out of house, ensuring safety for both you and the animal. Havahart® traps offer a solution, providing a non-lethal way to capture the critter. Understanding chipmunk behavior is crucial; they often seek shelter and food sources indoors, especially during colder months. Local animal control services can offer guidance and assistance if you’re unsure about handling the situation yourself.

How to Get a Chipmunk Out of Your House: Safe Removal

It can be quite startling to find a chipmunk scurrying around your home. We understand it can be concerning, but don’t worry. It’s often more frightened than you are. The most important thing is to remain calm and act with patience and care to safely guide it back outside. This guide will provide gentle and effective methods for coaxing the little critter out of your house, ensuring its safety and yours.

Understanding the Situation: Why is the Chipmunk Inside?

Before diving into removal techniques, it’s helpful to understand why the chipmunk ventured indoors. They may have:

• Accidentally entered through an open door or window.
• Sought shelter from bad weather.
• Been attracted by a potential food source (like stored pet food or fallen birdseed).
• Explored a small opening, not realizing how far they’d go.

Understanding the ‘why’ can inform your approach. For example, if bad weather is the cause, providing a sheltered exit point will be even more important.

Preparation is Key: Setting the Stage for Success

Before you actively try to get the chipmunk out, prepare the area:

• Secure Pets: The first step is to keep your pets (cats and dogs) away from the affected area to avoid scaring the chipmunk.
• Open Exits: Open doors and windows leading to the outside, ideally those nearest where you’ve spotted the chipmunk. You want to make escape easy and obvious.
• Dim the Lights: Chipmunks are more active in lower light conditions. Dimming the lights inside might make the brighter outdoors more appealing.
• Remove Temptations: Clear away any potential food sources that might distract the chipmunk from leaving.
• Minimize Noise: Reduce loud noises or sudden movements that could scare the chipmunk and cause it to hide further.

Gentle Guidance: Techniques for Encouraging Exit

Now, let’s explore safe and humane methods to encourage the chipmunk to leave. Remember, patience is essential.

1. The Waiting Game (Passive Approach): Often, the best approach is simply to open a door or window and give the chipmunk time to find its way out. This works best if the chipmunk is already near an exit.

2. Creating a Pathway:

   • Place a trail of appealing snacks (such as sunflower seeds or nuts) leading from where the chipmunk is to the open exit.

3. Gentle Encouragement (Active Approach):

   • If the chipmunk hasn’t taken the hint after a while, try gently shooing it towards the exit.
   • Important: Use a broom or towel to direct it, but avoid making any sudden movements or loud noises, which could frighten it.

4. The Box Trap Method:

   • This method requires a humane live trap. You can find these at most hardware or garden supply stores.
   • Bait the trap with sunflower seeds, nuts, or peanut butter.
   • Place the trap near where you’ve seen the chipmunk.
   • Once trapped, carefully release the chipmunk outdoors, away from your house (ideally near a wooded area).
   • Important: Always wear gloves when handling a trap or a trapped animal.

Here’s a breakdown of when to use each approach:

Method	Best Used When…	Cautions
Waiting Game	Chipmunk is near an exit, you have plenty of time, you want the least intervention	May take a long time if the chipmunk is hidden or disoriented.
Creating a Pathway	Chipmunk is in a predictable area, it’s calm and not stressed, and you have bait	May not work if the chipmunk is too scared or uninterested in the bait.
Gentle Encouragement	Other methods have failed, chipmunk is in a clear area, you need to act quickly	Can stress the chipmunk if done aggressively. Always move slowly and gently.
The Box Trap Method	Other methods have failed, you’re comfortable handling a trap, and you’re patient	Requires careful handling of the trap and the chipmunk. Check the trap regularly to avoid unnecessary stress on the animal.

What NOT to Do: Actions to Avoid

• Do not corner the chipmunk: This will make it feel threatened and likely to bite or scratch.
• Do not try to catch it with your bare hands: This is unsafe for both you and the chipmunk.
• Do not use poison or harmful traps: These are inhumane and can pose a risk to other animals or humans.
• Do not panic: Staying calm will help you think clearly and act responsibly.

Prevention: Keeping Chipmunks Out in the Future

Once you’ve successfully removed the chipmunk, take steps to prevent future occurrences:

• Seal Entry Points: Inspect your home’s foundation, windows, and doors for any cracks or openings. Seal these with caulk or steel wool.
• Trim Vegetation: Keep bushes and trees trimmed back from your house, as these can provide easy access for chipmunks.
• Store Food Properly: Store pet food, birdseed, and other potential food sources in sealed containers.
• Maintain Your Yard: Regularly clean up fallen fruit, nuts, or birdseed from your yard.
• Use Chipmunk Repellents: Consider using natural chipmunk repellents around your yard, such as those containing peppermint oil or garlic.

Alright, so you’ve got the basics on how to get chipmunk out of house safely. Remember, patience and persistence are key! Hopefully, with these tips, you can humanely evict your little guest and prevent future unwelcome visits, leaving you and the chipmunk in peace. Good luck!