Chipmunks are an elusive species of ground squirrels, making them difficult to observe and study. This leaves many wondering if chipmunks are known to create tunnels and holes in yards or if other types of animals burrow.
Chipmunks do make holes, tunnels, and burrows in your yard. They are a species of ground squirrel that make nests and larders underground. These animals also make small holes in the ground to rest during the day and dig holes to find food items.
There are several species of ground squirrels, and chipmunks are usually the most misunderstood.
When dealing with chipmunks, it is best to try and understand their behavior, including how they nest, where they forage for food, and what type of damage they can do to your yard.
Do Chipmunks Make Holes And Tunnels In Your Yard?
Chipmunks are very small and unassuming, but they are very prolific in some areas. They dwell in family groups, and their large numbers, combined with their ability to cover significant ground quickly, means that despite their small size, they can do more damage than most people realize.
Not everyone understands the crucial aspects of chipmunk behavior, which means that people with holes and tunnels in their yards may be unsure if chipmunks did this damage.
Chipmunks are ground squirrels, which means they are very prolific burrowers. In addition, chipmunks make holes and tunnels in yards, so if you have chipmunks in your area, any holes, tunnels, and burrows in your yard are likely caused by these animals.
These rodents are small, but they live in large groups, which means that they can create surprisingly large networks of underground tunnels and burrows. But they do not cause as much damage as other animals, such as gophers or ground squirrels.
Why Do Chipmunks Dig Burrows?
Chipmunks rely on their tunnels for nesting, safeguarding food supplies, and reproducing and nurturing offspring. Generally, the burrows are not very wide, but the rodents will dig out bigger chambers designated explicitly for storing food.
Chipmunks indeed forage for food in trees and above ground, but most of what they find is taken underground for storage or consumption.
These chambers, burrows, and tunnels are not usually very deep, but chipmunks construct holes as entrances at several locations depending on the size of the burrow.
Chipmunks are also known to make small holes when foraging for food, as they will dig shallow holes to rest and dig for specific food items on the ground.
These rodents will eat insects and grubs that they find in the ground. If the soil in your yard is rich in these food items, chipmunks are likely to dig several small holes in the area in search of food.
This means chipmunks dig holes and tunnels of all sizes and places in yards, but not every chipmunk hole you find will be connected to the main burrow.
What Do Chipmunk Holes Look Like?
Chipmunk holes can vary in size. Most will be built alongside large trees and have an entrance hole at the base of the tree. However, you can find them in flower beds, rock piles, and woodpiles. The entrance holes are between 1–2 inches wide.
The burrows usually go straight down into the ground, creating a vertical tunnel deep into the earth. The tunnels will usually be a few inches wide, and sometimes they can branch off in several directions.
Are Chipmunk Burrows Damaging To Yards?
Chipmunks dig long tunnels and burrow in relatively soft ground. Most yards provide the space and soft earth that chipmunks prefer for digging burrows, which means that yards are an ideal location for chipmunk burrows. But do these burrows cause any harm to yards?
The unfortunate reality is that chipmunk burrows, tunnels, and holes can cause damage to yards and gardens.
When these rodents dig tunnels, they disrupt plant life, such as lawns and other grasses, and can damage the root systems of these plants.
This damage can cause plants to die, and the burrows themselves create a way for other pests that may not otherwise have access to the plants and their roots.
The same applies to all plants, flowers, and even small trees. Chipmunks and their burrows can cause harm to gardens.
Chipmunks have a very varied diet, including the roots of certain plants and shoots of some green plants.
How To Prevent Chipmunk Damage In Your Yard
If you have chipmunks in your area, it is important not to plant any form of plants that chipmunks eat, as this will only provide them with food to stay in the area longer, and they are sure to damage your garden and yard in search of these plants.
You can also try to discourage chipmunks from entering your yard by trimming trees and plants away from the ground, as this will make it harder for them to access fruits and vegetables in your garden.
Try to eliminate all sources of food, making sure that there is no garbage or pet food left lying around, which can attract chipmunks.
Using traps to catch chipmunks is another option, but you may want to consider using professional help.
How Chipmunk Holes Damage Your Yard?
Foraging chipmunks can be a nuisance in your yard as they dig holes, which can cause destruction to plants and leave unattractive bare patches.
Some will cover their burrows with loose soil from other areas in your yard to camouflage the entrance to their den.
As a result of chipmunk activity, your yard can become not only spotted with ugly brown patches but also full of large gaps. In addition, they can cause structural damage to your property if they dig their tunnels under sidewalks, driveways, stairs, and other structural foundations.
How To Deal With Chipmunk Burrows
If you find several holes, burrows, and tunnels in your yard, and you suspect that chipmunks are the culprits, then it is vital to know how to deal with these holes safely without causing further harm to your yard or the animals that made the holes.
The best way to deal with chipmunk holes is to deal with the chipmunks.
A very effective method for removing chipmunks from an area is to get a cat or a dog, as the predator’s presence will chase them away.
Other effective methods include putting strong-smelling items into the holes of the chipmunk burrows, such as garlic, lavender, and ginger, as chipmunks find these smells offensive and are likely to leave if there is too much of them in the area.
You can also fill chipmunk holes with concrete and leave space to fill them with dirt above the concrete. Permanently blocking off chipmunk burrows will cause them to move on.
Once the chipmunks have left the area, dealing with the chipmunk holes is far easier, as they will not be re-dug or re-used.
Simply fill the chipmunk burrows with lots of sand and dirt, and compact it down to close it off completely and prevent any collapses where the burrows are underground.
Final Word
Chipmunks are burrowing animals and are well-known for making tunnels and holes in yards. The best way to deal with these holes is to remove the chipmunks, as this will prevent the rodents from re-opening the holes.
When dealing with chipmunks, be cautious and take your time. Make sure to chase them all away from your yard before you fill in their burrows!
Once you have removed the rodents from your property, you can fill in their burrows, and they are unlikely to return.
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Sources
https://www.havahart.com/chipmunk-facts
https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/what-do-about-chipmunks