Updated on March 8, 2023
If you have ever watched ‘Alvin and the Chipmunks’ or ‘Chip n Dale’, you know how cute and cuddly a chipmunk can be, especially for the kids. However, if chipmunks decide to move into your home, the cute and cuddly feeling is quickly replaced by frustration.
Chipmunks are rodents and can be categorized as pests; they can cause untold damage to your yard as well as your garden.
Today we will be looking at some of the best chipmunk poison options for when you can’t get rid of chipmunks with more conservative methods.
What is a Chipmunk?
A chipmunk is a small rodent of the Sciuridae family. It is specifically identifiable by its brown fur, ranging from brown to reddish color with five black and two white stripes on the chipmunk’s back.
Chipmunks dig for their food and can make a complete mess of even the most cared-for gardens. Many preventative measures can be used, but it is often best to use chipmunk poison in the long run.
Where Do They Live?
When it comes to the choice of homes, the chipmunks are quite versatile. They can be found in the woods, burrowed in lawns or gardens, shrubbery, or trees. They also take advantage of natural shelters such as piles of logs or stones.
The chipmunk burrows its den in deep holes and is adept at camouflaging the entrance with leaves and other vegetation. They will disguise several entrances to the extensive network of tunnels, and within, they will create living space and food storage compartments.
Fast Breeders
When the breeding cycle comes around, the female’s pregnancy lasts about one month, and she can give birth to an average litter size of between two and eight babies.
As with most rodents, the female chipmunk will breed within a year and multiply very quickly.
So as stated before, it would be best if you moved quickly against the chipmunks as they can very speedily overwhelm your home and garden with numbers.
Hibernation
Chipmunks do hibernate, but not in the same way as a bear will hibernate for months during winter. The chipmunk can hibernate to a point but has to wake up periodically to eat the food it has stored in its “larder.”
So, just because you cannot see any chipmunk activity doesn’t mean they are not there, waiting underground to strike when the weather gets warmer.
The Problems with a Chipmunk Infestation
They Eat Everything
Chipmunks LOVE to eat and hoard their food; they will consume just about anything on offer in the home or garden. Typically they will forage for seeds, berries, flowers.
They also enjoy various fruits, roots, herbs, bulbs, and mushrooms; this foraging can wreak havoc on the vegetable garden and flower patches.
They Like to Dig
Chipmunks love digging, and once they have moved in, you will see the evidence on the lawn and flower beds. Chipmunk holes can quickly ruin a nicely manicured lawn.
They dig into the foundations, walls, and stairs and can cause extensive damage due to their constant searching activities.
Population Explosion
As stated, if the chipmunk population is left unchecked, they will breed continuously until you need to call in a professional pest removal company. Best to nip it in the bud before too late.
Exposure to Rabies
As with most rodents, they do not purposefully attack humans, but when confronted or cornered, their base instinct of survival will kick in, and they will bite.
This is particularly worrying for adults and children alike as their saliva could be carrying the rabies virus like gophers do.
Does Rat Poison Kill Chipmunks?
The short answer is YES. If used correctly, various types of rat poison do indeed kill chipmunks
Can We Prevent Chipmunk Infestation?
Before we get to the reviews of the best chipmunk poison on the market, let’s take a look at some preventative steps that can be taken to prevent an infestation of chipmunks. Both of these can be considered exclusion methods.
Small, inexpensive fencing can be an effective preventative measure. This small cell fencing can cover vegetable gardens, housing foundation cavities, exposed pipes, etc.
Another relatively inexpensive way to prevent chipmunks from burrowing is hardware cloth. This material can be buried between six and eight inches deep to prevent the chipmunks from burrowing into the garden or other significant areas.
Killing Chipmunks with Poison
If all preventative measures have been exhausted, you can poison the chipmunks to get rid of the infestation by using one of the products below. Poisoning the chipmunks can lead to secondary kills.
This means that birds of prey, cats, and other animals that feed on the poisoned chipmunk carcass ingest the poison, and they too may die from exposure to the chipmunk poison.
It’s important to note that some states are heavily regulated when it comes to the use of pesticides and insecticides, so it is wise to check your local laws before doing so.
Best Chipmunk Poison on the Market
#1 – Farnam Just One Bite II Bar
Farnam makes a range of pest repellents, traps, and poisons. These individually wrapped bars can be broken up, making it easier to place the poison hard to reach places such as chipmunk burrows.
- Norway rats, roof rats and house mice may consume a lethal dose in a single...
- Death is delayed 4 to 5 days, so there's no bait shyness
- Kills warfarin resistant Norway rats
The Farnam Just One Bite II Bar features a nibble ridge making it easier for the chipmunk to chew on the chipmunk poison bait. A nice touch is that with each bait bar is individually wrapped, the bait will remain fresh for long-term storage.
The bait is sold in 8 pound boxes, with each bar weighing in at one pound. After consuming the bait, the first dead chipmunks should start to appear within four to five days.
Pros:
- The bait bar can be easily hidden from sight.
- A hard and chewy composition, they are suitable for chipmunks teeth.
- Can be broken up and easily without a bait trap.
Cons:
- As it is a poison, it could lead to secondary kills.
#2 – Tomcat All-Weather Bait Chunx
Tomcat has been a firm favorite for the effective control of pests for many years.
- For use in and around agricultural buildings and homes
- Norway rats, roof rats and house mice cease feeding after consuming a toxic dose
- Kills up to 12 mice per 1 oz. block
The Tomcat range of baits is manufactured with food-grade ingredients and other enhancements. This makes the bait palatable while producing consistent results in controlling pest infestations.
Tomcat product and baits are an economical choice for the day to day control and prevention of chipmunk problems. The Tomcat bait product is available in extruded block form, chipmunk poison pellets, place packs, and in a liquid concentrate form to meet the user’s individual needs.
Pros:
- It can be easily scattered around the garden or ceiling.
- The human-grade food ingredients helps in luring the chipmunk.
Cons:
- Need to be careful if you have pets.
#3 – Just One Bite II Pellet Packs
Another Farnam product, these pellet packs provide a fast and effective indoor and outdoor chipmunk control.
- Just One Bite II kills mice, roof rats and Norway rats
- Norway rats and house mice may consume a lethal does in one feeding
- BULK SIZE 8LB BOX
It contains the active ingredient bromethalin, which is extremely toxic for chipmunks. The pellet packs do not need to be opened as the packaging is easily chewed through by the chipmunks
After a lethal dose, it may take two or more days for the poison to kill the chipmunks. These pellets are sold in a 4-pound pail containing 88 place packs, more than enough to cover a substantial area around the home and garden.
Pros:
- The no-touch packaging is easy to chew for chipmunks.
- The pellet packs are designed to target other pests.
- Convenient packs are easy to distribute.
Cons:
- The poison can kill other animals.
#4 – Victor Mole & Gopher Poison Peanuts
Well-known Sweeney’s poison peanuts fall under the Victor brand of products and have been a trusted brand on the market since 1898.
- Kills Moles & Gophers - Poison Peanut Pellets quickly kill moles and gophers...
- High-Quality Bait Formula - The peanuts are designed to look and taste extremely...
- Easy to Apply - The cleverly designed container features a cone tip that allows...
If you are looking for prevention or cure, there is a wide array of products available for your every need. Poison peanuts attract the chipmunk, and after they have eaten the chipmunk poison peanuts, they will quickly die.
The canister’s design features a cone-shaped tip that allows the user to puncture holes in any visible surface tunnels for the easy application of the peanuts. The poison peanuts come in a handy 6-ounce container.
You may have heard the myth that Juicy Fruit gum kills gophers and chipmunks but it’s not worth trying. Just get some Victor poison peanuts instead.
Pros:
- Comes in a handy cone-shaped container for punching holes in chipmunk tunnels.
- Designed to target other pest infestations as well.
Cons:
- There are restrictions on the use of poisons in certain states.
You Need To Act Quickly
The quicker you act, the easier it will be to eliminate the threat of chipmunks. A chipmunk invasion’s ramifications can lead to severe problems for the homeowner. They can cause structural damage to the house by burrowing into the place, under stairs and patios, and if left unchecked, will breed out of control.
No one wishes to see their gardens reduced to a wasteland as the pesky chipmunk lays waste your plants and flowers. A chipmunk infestation risk is increased by having bird feeders, bird bathing pools, and other garden decorations in place.
Log piles, stone gardens, and bushy shrubs also attract the chipmunk as these make great natural shelters for the chipmunk. Keeping your yard and surrounding areas clean and well-kept is a deterrent for chipmunk infestation.
Get Rid of Chipmunks with the Help of Pest Control
Although these cute and cuddly critters look extremely harmless, they can wreak quite a havoc if they happen to infest your property in larger numbers.
If there are only few chipmunks infiltrating your backyard infrequently, then the above-mentioned poisons can help. However, in the case of a full-fledge infestation, it’s always better to hire a professional exterminator who could eliminate this problem more skillfully and permanently for you.
To know more about this, click the link below to get free quotes from various local Pest Control companies so that you can choose the right and most fitting pest control for your chipmunk infestation problem.
Final Words
Having any kind of pest infestation can be a nightmare, and in some cases, extreme measures must be taken to remove the menace.
If you have tried all the preventative measures and have not succeeded in removing the chipmunks, the products listed above are some of the better poison solutions on the market.
As with any poison, read all warning labels and instructions before using it and ensure you prevent your pets and family members from inadvertently being exposed to these products.
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A con with all poisons is the stink if the critter dies behind a wall or under the floor or any other place that is inaccessible.
I read somewhere that Rugby Ferrous Sulfate Tablets will kill chipmunks when pored into their holes. Is this true?
I have not heard that before so can’t confirm either way. Ferrous sulfate is used to treat an iron deficiency in humans (and also used to get rid of moss on yards).