Updated On

April 21, 2024

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    Contrary to the noses of humans, chipmunks absolutely can’t stand the smells of certain strong oils like peppermint, citrus, cinnamon, and eucalyptus. Additionally, chipmunks can’t stand the smell of garlic. By using these scents in your garden as a homemade chipmunk repellent, you’ll essentially “re-program” the mind of the chipmunk and make it not want to frequent that area anymore.

    A strong word of warning: moth balls have circulated the internet in the past few years for their effectiveness at warding off unwanted animals. However, we highly advise against the use of chipmunk repellent moth balls due to the toxins inside. Moth balls bear a resemblance to candy, which means that children can easily mistake this poison for something edible.

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    What About Flowers As A Chipmunk Deterrent?

    Part of the fun of being a chipmunk is tearing up the gardens of unsuspecting nearby dwellers.

    Many people think that certain types of flowers exist which can scare away chipmunks but in fact, this is not the case. Chipmunks are very attracted to plants in general, so trying to find one that deters these creatures is a fool’s errand.

    However, this doesn’t mean you can’t trick a chipmunk with a plant.

    Here’s an awesome chipmunk repellent home remedy:

    1. First, buy a plant and devote it solely to warding off chipmunks.
    2. Make sure to place this plant away from the other plants that you actually like.
    3. Spray it with a scent the chipmunks don’t like such as garlic
    4. Wait for the unsuspecting chipmunk to come and realize that it’s a trap!
    5. Rinse/repeat this and it will reprogram the chipmunk’s instincts and it should–with enough trial and error–steer clear of your garden in the future.

    How Do YOU Keep YOUR Chipmunks Away?

    Being such a small animal, fear is a huge motivator in the eyes of a chipmunk. This species is always on the lookout for a predator, and always on defense. Anytime you can make a chipmunk feel as if its life is at stake, your chipmunk will feel the need to flee. This truly is the best way to get rid of chipmunks.

    How can you do this?

    Well, as stated before, the nose is powerful. When chipmunks sniff the urine of a predator, they are instinctively driven away. Now, we’re not suggesting that you hand-deliver the urine of a larger animal, but you can take some effortless steps to getting some powerful scent in your yard.

    For instance, if you have an indoor cat, let it outside for a few minutes to use the bathroom. Likewise, the urine from a dog can do the trick. If there are no pets available to create the scent of urine, you can go the old fashioned route: purchase a realistic-looking owl to stare down your yard and drive off the chipmunk population for good.


    Should You Use Chipmunk Repellent or a Chipmunk Trap?

    While the two products sound the same, they produce drastically different results.

    With a chipmunk repellent, you are simply using a type of formula or a scare tactic to make your yard feel uninhabitable to chipmunks. No harm is done, and you can rest easier at night knowing that no chipmunks were hurt in the efforts to clear your garden.

    A chipmunk trap, however, takes different measures. Not all traps are designed to kill the chipmunk, but there is always a notion of captivity involved. With that said, chipmunks can sometimes panic inside of a trap and harm themselves. You may have to resort to this type of measure if your chipmunks aren’t responding well enough to the repellents and wreaking too much havoc in your yard.

    (Another option we as a repelling device is to use an ultrasonic repeller, which are built to repel chipmunks as well as other bugs and rodents.)


    Top 4 Best Chipmunk Repellents

    In the below section we break down each of our product recommendations in a little more detail.

    1. MaxMoxie Repeller (our #1 pick for your house)
    2. All Natural Rodent Defense Spray (a non-chemical repellent spray)
    3. Natural Armor Animal & Rodent Repellent Spray
    4. Apello 4 Pack Mole Repellent Solar Chipmunk Repellant

    Apello 4 Pack Mole Repellent Solar Chipmunk Repellant

    Apello’s ultrasonic outdoor chipmunk and gopher repellent system chases away rodents and small animals from your yard for good. These solar-powered stakes send sonic waves up to 45 feet. Chipmunks, rodents, and other small animals hate these sounds, and it repels them quickly.

    Each box contains four repellent stakes. It’s best to overlap coverage areas for maximum results. Each stake covers about 6500 sq ft and may be placed anywhere within a yard or garden area.

    The Apello ultrasonic repellent stakes are safe for children and pets. And although they may repel cats and dogs, there are no lasting, harmful effects.

    Each spike is made of durable, waterproof material. They run on solar power and are fully charged within 8 hours. So, there are no batteries to replace.

    Works well for chipmunks
    Safe for children, pets, and the environment
    Maintenance-free
    Wide coverage area
    Waterproof material
    May not work for larger animal
    Spikes may be easily damaged in high-traffic areas
    Product may not be waterproof in areas prone to flooding

    MaxMoxie Repeller

    This yard installment uses a low frequency of ultrasonic waves to irritate chipmunks and make them flee.

    This won’t harm them (or pets), so you can take solace in the knowledge that you’ll be treating these animals with care.

    1,200 Sq. Feet of Range
    100% Kid and Pet Safe
    Risk Free Return Policy If It Doesn’t Work For You
    Ultrasonic Repellers Can Be Hit or Miss
    May Not Like The Blue Light Emitted From Device

    All Natural Rodent Defense Spray

    This spray is designed for those looking to protect a garden or immaculately-kept lawn.

    The formula is non-toxic and smells of comforting spices, which deter chipmunks and keep them away from your plants.

    Creates a scent barrier which hinders chipmunks
    Can be used outdoors or indoors with a few simple sprays
    Waterproof protection that’s suitable for the outdoors
    The smell can be overpowering to sensitive noses
    Some types of vermin and cats are attracted to this product
    The company has run into packaging trouble with faulty spray bottles

    Natural Armor Animal & Rodent Repellent Spray

    This eco-friendly liquid rodent repellant from Natural Armor keeps chipmunks and other small animals away. Use it around homes, yards, gardens, and landscaping. It can also be sprayed throughout these locations indoors:

    • Basements
    • Attics
    • Cellars
    • Crawlspaces

    For outdoor application, it’s safe to use around these areas:

    • Plants
    • Shrubs
    • Trees
    • Grades
    • Pool houses

    Natural Armor Repellant Spray is safe and easy to use. Just fill your bottle, point, and spray. Each application lasts up to 90 days in dry conditions. It also has a fresh, clean peppermint scent.

    Natural Armor comes with an unconditional money-back guarantee. If for any reason you’re unhappy with it, just return it for a full refund.

    All-natural ingredients
    Won’t harm animals or the environment
    Safe around children and pets
    Long-lasting
    Money-back guarantee
    May not work as well for larger animals
    Bottle may leak during shipping, on rare occasions

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    Editorial Contributors
    avatar for Ed Spicer

    Ed Spicer

    Ed has been working in the pest control industry for years helping 1,000's of homeowners navigate the world of insect and rodent management.

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