Chipmunks Eating My Tomatoes

eliseb

16 years ago

Hi,

What can I do to stop Chipmunks from eating tomatoes from the plants in my garden.

I have tried Fox urine, Shake Away, Pepper Spray, Tin Foil around the base of the plants. Nothing works.

Please Help!!!

Featured Answer

jat4267_bellsouth_net

14 years ago

The owl statues don't work, neither do fake snakes. Nor does bird netting. They will find a way through, over or under. They can climb quite well when the occasion warrants it. Ripe tomatoes are a good incentive.

Typically they eat the bottom out of the tomatoes closest to the ground, but will work higher up when necessary.

The solution I found were 2 small Have-a-Heart traps (wire cages with trapdoor at each end) baited with chunks of tomatoes from the damaged ones. Find them at hardware and big box stores. Mine were about 4x4 inches across and maybe a foot long. Plenty big.

Peanut butter will not work no matter what it is put on if there are ripe tomatoes nearby. They will sell their soul for a ripe tomato once they take one. The tomato bait needs to be fresh to 2 days old max.

Put the traps under the plants or between the rows nearest the woods or hiding places and check them every morning or you may make them suffer from heat stroke.

In my small 20 plant garden I collected and relocated 12 of the critters over a 2 week period (last year). Then enjoyed peace and tomatoes from then on. I took them to a park and released them all in the same spot. It needs to be at least a mile away, further if possible. Be kind to your friends in other neighborhoods and don't put them there. They may have tomatoes too.

Good Luck,

Oldtimer4267

Here is a link that might be useful: Oldtimer Speaks Out

Comments (12)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
16 years ago
try a nut wired to a rat trap .. or peanut butter .... find the hole ... invert a large bucket over the hole with the trap inside ....

vermin are vermin .. and if they are stealing your food.. its you or them ... this aint disney ... if you just cant bring yourself to act accordingly .. then perhaps you shouldn't complain ...

the bucket or pot will keep other animals out of the trap ..

good luck

ken
kubotabx2200
16 years ago
Best solution is an airgun that shoots .22 pellets.

Second best solution is a rat trap baited with peanut butter.
calliope
16 years ago
Have you seen them do it, or just happen to see them in the proximity of your garden when it's been done?
lagrangeny
16 years ago
Simply shoot them. They may be raccoons. Raccoons eat in the middle of the night. Very cagey. They will never leave unless you get them now.
cre8ivmind
16 years ago
Just a note to ken_adrian, kubotabx2200, lagrangeny ...

Killing is not a solution. I would recommend researching humane preventative measures instead.

Here is a link that might be useful: My Blog
cre8ivmind
16 years ago
In my last post I neglected to list the preventative methods of control. However, I encourage you to retry those 4 you mentioned.

I recommend this: Fence your garden with 1/4 inch mesh that extends at least 6 inches below the ground and then over your plants. I've also heard that statue predators (i.e. owls) can scare them away.

Here is a link that might be useful: My Blog
teegee11220
12 years ago
this morning i found 3 beautifully formed tomatos - still green lying on the ground next to the tomato plant. I thought the recent rain storm shook them loose. But just a moment ago, i watched a chipmunk sit at the bottom of the tomato plant, then climb the stalk and chew another green tomato from the vine. it fell to the ground, he watched and scampered off. my .22 is now loaded and later i will add some mouse traps to yard. these guys have killed numerous flowering plants from underground and two new sapling trees. its time for this annoying "alvin" to die.
Robert Keeler
5 years ago
Kill them with traps or a pellet rifle. I kill at least three to four squirrels a day. They are rodents (think mice and rats). You are not spending your time and money to feed rodents. Plus, they carry disease which can be transferred to the food you and your family are trying to eat.
tsugajunkie z5 SE WI ♱
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
I know this is an old post...but...They seek moisture. Keep a pan of water out for them, it will stop them eating the green ones. As for near ripe ones, I've found ziplock baggies with the corners nipped off for drainage or plastic vented containers that blueberries and the like come in do work. I've battled them for years and these have proven most successful.

tj
Robert Blumberg
5 years ago
In hot weather bait Have-A-Heart Traps with pieces of the ruined tomatos and place the trap near the plants. Release the Chipmunks at least 5 miles from your home. In cooler weather bait the traps with blueberries, any raw nut or peanut butter. I remove 8 to 10 Chipmunks each season and it reduces the tomato damage substantially.
Lynn Theune
3 years ago
I have found that placing some fur from my cat's brush at each cluster works really well!!