They are cute little devils, but they can also cause a tremendous amount of damage around your property!
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I have to fall on the “foe” side of this question. The reason – as small and harmless as they appear, they can cause enormous amounts of destruction around concrete patios and steps.
The reason – as small and harmless as they appear, they can cause enormous amounts of destruction around concrete patios and steps.
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How can something so small create so much havoc? They burrow under the concrete and make tunnels. These hollow spaces can cause the concrete to crack, sag, and ultimately fail to the point it must be replaced. The pic below is an approximate idea of the damage they can create.
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This patio has failed to the point that it is dangerous! Beyond repair, it will need to be replaced. Now you are looking at a bill that will run to the thousands. Yikes! And all from a cute, harmless (looking) little chipmunk.
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So, what are the solutions? Unfortunately if you see one chipmunk in your yard, you probably have several. The most common, and humane, solution is a live trap. After you trap one you can take it several miles away and release it on some other poor homeowner! You can take it to a park, or to an unpopulated area. Good luck with that. There are other methods, which are lethal. I am not condoning any specific method. You will have to determine what is right for your situation.
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Tom, perfect timing! I have tenants renting out the 2 bedroom cottage behind my house. The wife is an animal lover and wants to feed anything on four legs. She “was” putting out food for any critter that would come around which meant when I take my two puppy Golden Retrievers to what I call our “lower 40″, they would immediately dart around the back of the cottage to the scraps she’d leave out = diarrhea for the pups. I spoke to the hubby and the scrap problem was resolved BUT, she made some device (box) where she is still… Read more »