Help chipmunks in my basement

[Scott Kilroy]

The cat is too old to go after them and they're making a mess. Anyone have ideas how to get rid of them?

[Lee Schierer]

Three ideas:
1. A small live trap baited with peanut butter.
2.Or a rat trap baited the same way.
3. Get another younger cat

[Kev Williams]

No idea if this would work on chipmunks but they work on me: Those smelly 'beads' you put in the washer. While they smell good, I can't wear clothes washed with them, the physical(?) aroma of that stuff is like breathing in oven cleaner to me. Dryer sheets *are supposed to* keep mice away, for the same reason-- some boaters I know tie them to their dock lines...

[Paul F Franklin]

Search for chipmunk bucket trap for a simple way to trap them. But find out where they are getting in and take care of that or you will just get more.

[Scott Kilroy]

...find out where they are getting in and take care of that or you will just get more.

That's the bigger problem, so much stuff is in the basement it's hard to get to the walls.

[Ron Citerone]

That's the bigger problem, so much stuff is in the basement it's hard to get to the walls.

Sooner or later it comes down to cutting off entry points. I feel your pain!

[Ralph Okonieski]

Lee had good suggestions with live trap or rat trap. Sunflower seeds work really well as bait also. cut 80% of the top off a 3oz bathroom cup and put the bait in the remaining bottom portion, placing it on the trip lever in the live trap. Can reuse it with new bait if successful. Peanut butter sometimes draws ants which is why I use sunflower seeds. Good luck.

[Mark Rainey]

As Lee said, trap them. I nailed about 8 field mice, but inadvertently got a chipmunk in my yard also. I like the Victor plastic traps which are bigger than a mouse trap but smaller than the rat traps.

mouse trap.jpg

[Myk Rian]

The bucket and sunflower seeds works the best. Some softies will bemoan the darned things drowning, but they aren't the ones with the problem.

[Ole Anderson]

I use a Tomcat rat trap baited with sunflower seeds. Peanut butter by itself doesn't work. Set it next to a wall where they run. Chipmunks are dumb. I can catch three in a row with the trap set in the same location. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Tomcat-S...0810/205566237

[Lisa Starr]

Put instant mashed potatoes out for them. Chipmunks love the dry potatoes, eat them and of course the potatoes then expand. Not real nice to think about, but very effective.

[Scott Kilroy]

thanks but I think that's a little too hardcore for me.

[Bill Dufour]

You really need to add a coma to the title of the thread. What kind of help do these squirrels need? Do they have substance abuse or emotional problems? Or do you just need to buy them pine nuts and provide water. Man, Pine nuts cost a lot, I wish they grew on trees.
Bill D.

https://www.facebook.com/socalsquirrel/

[Scott Kilroy]

Point taken.

[Kev Williams]

thanks but I think that's a little too hardcore for me.

That's why I suggested something that might keep them from coming in in the first place...

Another way to keep them from coming in, is put food and water OUT for them...
cfood.jpg
If they don't need to come in, they likely won't

If it works, just keep moving the food farther away from the house...