Chipmunks are cute critters that belong in the squirrel family. The fluffy animal weighs about 3.5 ounces and measures 5-6 inches in length. They find the ground environment livable. But, you will see them climbing high well when the occasion allows them. Do chipmunks eat tomatoes? When it comes to possible invaders that can detriment your tomatoes, chipmunks are by far the worst. If they decide to decimate your tomatoes, they are nothing but a devastating pest you can never imagine.
Do Chipmunks Eat Tomatoes?
While chipmunks can devilish your tomato garden, having them around can also increase the risk of disease spreading to other plants.
If you are a gardener, it is vital to identify these creatures earlier. You also need to know the methods you can use to eliminate them. Otherwise, your whole tomatoes will be a mess.
How To Identify Chipmunks In Your Garden
Detecting chipmunks in your tomato garden requires no science. You will never see them eating anything. Tomatoes are their incentives. While eating tomatoes is their target, they can also cause tremendous destruction by excreting on plants they don’t eat.
But chipmunks eat birds’ chicks and eggs, too. So, having the birds around can spare your garden a little bit.
The pest also hides in hard-to-reach places. But you can only notice them scratching outdoor structures.
Another perfect way to identify chipmunks is through chew marks they leave on fruits.
How To Eliminate Chipmunks
There are a bunch of ways to keep chipmunks away from your tomato garden. Since they are rodents, apply similar methods that you use to control other rodents, such as mice and rats.
1. Habit modification
Chipmunks do not love open and loose environments. So, the most promising way to control them is to leave a reasonable space between the plants surrounding your garden. It is also a good idea to remove twigs, debris, and other plants from your yard.
2. Exclusion
It is one of the popular techniques that many gardeners have turned their heads to.
Chipmunks are great diggers. And they can dig up 30 feet deep, get under fences and advance to your tomato yard. To control this, use the exclusion method.
So, use barrier materials around the bases. Bury clothes and other hardware materials to the maximum depth. Even better, fence your home using a plant-free gravel border.
3. Apply repellents
Both commercial and natural repellents can help to keep chipmunks away. Some of the common commercial repellents to use may include mothballs, Bonide, and thiram.
4. Hot spices
Yes, hot condiments can eliminate chipmunks from your garden. Cayenne pepper and chili powder can work pretty well because of their pungent smell.
5. Trapping
Besides using spices, you can also trap chipmunks. Get yourself a trap (a small wire mesh) and place it around the chipmunk activity. Put a bait inside (peanut can work pretty well). Check regularly for trapped chipmunks.
Do Chipmunks Eat Tomatoes: Conclusion
There are a lot of things that can attract chipmunks, including insects, mushrooms, flower bulbs, among others. But they can also cause a menace in your tomato garden. Therefore, learning how to eliminate them before they cause destruction on your tomato garden can spare you a lot of trouble and save you time and energy.
Related article: Do chipmunks climb trees?