Top 5 Best Chipmunk Traps (**2021 Review**)

We all know the warning signs...

...holes scattered throughout the yard and gardens completely ransacked.

Upon first glance, this scene looks like it was created by a large, vicious nuisance animal; a raccoon, or maybe even a fox perhaps?

And yet, this destruction is just the tip of the iceberg.

Soon, you’ll be finding the wires of your car gnawed clean through, and maybe even hearing the scuttle of small footsteps within your walls.

Of course, these are the signs of a chipmunk invasion on your property, which can escalate to serious damage if you’re not proactive in driving them away.

If you’ve already tried using repellents for your chipmunks and haven’t had any success, using a trap to do a little more "permanent" damage to these pests.

Follow along with our guide to learn about the best products to trap chipmunks, and your property will soon be chipmunk-free!

Short on time?  Take a look below for the top 5 in our list. Otherwise, check out our buying guide!

What Types of Chipmunk Traps Are Most Popular?

When it comes to trapping chipmunks, there are a few different types from which to choose. These traps work in different ways, and some will be better suited to use than others, depending on the severity of the infestation and other environmental factors.

• Box cages with spring-activated doors. These are metal cages around the size of a shoebox which function via a spring level on the inside. When bait is taken from a certain area, the chipmunk’s weight activates the spring, which closes the door and traps the animal inside.
• Electronic zappers. This is also a box shape with a spring door, but this trap takes elimination to a higher level: the trap will send volts of electricity through the chipmunk which, in turn, will usually kill it.
• Rolling bars over a bucket. Sometimes labeled the “chipmunk bucket of death,” this trap works by attaching a rolling bar over the top of a five-gallon bucket. The user will also affix ramps to either side of the bucket and use a sticky type of bait on the rolling bar to attract chipmunks. Normally, users will fill the bucket halfway with water. Chipmunks climb up onto the bar to take the bait, then fall into the bucket when the bar rolls, where they inevitably drown.
• Spring-activated stun/kill "mousetrap style" traps. These are what most people picture when they think about a rodent trap: the vintage image of cheese at one end of a wooden spring trap used to lure mice in cartoons. 

Do Traps Use Chipmunk Poison?

Despite what many skeptics may think, these most traps are poison-free.

Though they may cause the chipmunk bodily harm or death, chemicals are not used in eliminating these rodents.

Because of this, these types of traps are not only safe, but absolutely recommended for families with small children and/or pets on the property. 

Chipmunk bait containing poison is on the market, but it’s rarely used for these traps. Normally, a chipmunk will respond much better to a natural bait like peanut butter or sunflower seeds.

Poison baits are usually only reserved as a last-ditch effort to eliminate chipmunks, so you can rest assured that in using a trap, you’re not harming others. In fact, the objective of most traps is to simply contain the animal for release in the wild.

The Chipmunk Traps We Reviewed

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