Chipmunks spotted in Edison home. Chipmunk removal and control in NJ

Challenge

I was dispatched to an Edison residence after the homeowner had called Cowleys upon seeing a chipmunk scurrying about her kitchen. Squirrels are, by far, the most commonly observed rodent in New Jersey, and the one that commonly invades a home, usually through an entry point in the roof. Chipmunks, which are ground-dwelling rodents of the squirrel family, are a far less common nuisance pest. If you happen to see a chipmunk, it will likely be darting around the edge of a building. Because they are wary of predators, they are hard to spot for more than a few seconds. They are solitary animals that spend most of their time in underground burrows, and it is rare for them to venture outside their familiar habitat and inside buildings. These rodents usually become a nuisance because of their burrowing activity, causing structural damage to patios and foundations, or sometimes damaging gardens. 

As long as chipmunks are not invading our homes, they are cute little creatures to observe. No doubt, our affection for them is influenced by the mischievous singing animated trio of Alvin, Simon, and Theodore.  

Chipmunks in New Jersey are eastern chipmunks. They are about six inches long with a stubby tail that stands straight up when they run. With black and white stripes running along their backs, they look like little toy race cars speeding through our yards. Perhaps the most pronounced physical characteristic of chipmunks are their distensible cheek pouches that, when full with nuts or seeds, have the appearance of Dizzy Gillespie’s ballooning cheeks when blowing his trumpet.  

A thorough inspection turned up limited evidence of chipmunk activity in the kitchen. However, there was more extensive evidence such as rodent deposits and some chewing in the basement and a spare bedroom. 

Solution

I set up traps in the areas where there was rodent activity. Because chipmunks are solitary, if I was going to trap something at all, I was only expecting to snare a single rodent. While a single chipmunk will not usually cause much damage, they are still considered a nuisance, no matter how cute. Once a single rodent comes inside and starts wandering around your home, it is one rodent too many.  

In the few cases where these little pests enter homes, they usually do so through an opening in the foundation or under improperly sealed entry and garage doors. Here, the chipmunk had gained access through a gap in the flexible seal on the side of a garage door. This particular wildlife invasion highlights the fact that it does not take much of an entry way for small wildlife to weasel their way inside your home. The homeowner had the door's weather-seal repaired, eliminating that particular entry point. Over the course of a few visits and with careful monitoring, I made sure there were no longer any uninvited guests visiting this residence. While seeing a chipmunk can be a real treat, the key is location. We only want to observe them outside of our homes.