Don't tell PETA

Jeff · June 30, 2015, 12:02:12 PM

I had been noticing chipmunks coming out of the engine compartment of my truck, my sawmill, our barn, the neighbors barn that is right on the edge of our line, and also noticed some plants getting destroyed and holes in the ground all over the place. I decided to thin them a little. I figured if I could get 4 or 5 of them it would take care of the problem. 3 weeks ago I set out my 5 gallon pail half full of water with sunflower sees floating in it. I added two more pails on different parts of our property. Maybe 200 feet at the most between them.

I just came in from checking my traps today. As of today, in 3 weeks and one day, I have caught 111.1 of the little buggers!! (the point one was a mouse) I'm still seeing just as many of them running around as I did before I started and even more holes dug around the yard. Holy crap. Clearly, if you see 2, you have twenty. The most I have caught at one time, in one bucket, having missed one day of checking, as I usually check a couple times a day, was 10 chipmunks. Today I had 3 in one pail, and one each in the others. I hate to have to do this, but they are destructive little buggers to say the least.

BradMarks · June 30, 2015, 12:10:24 PM

That's a lot of body bags

Jeff · June 30, 2015, 12:12:23 PM

If I had know from the start, I could have made me a blanket! :D

beenthere · June 30, 2015, 12:21:56 PM

Good for you and good for the neighborhood (but not the monks' hood).

justallan1 · June 30, 2015, 12:35:35 PM

Just sounds like dirt-less gardening to me. It's not your fault the little bat rastards clumb in and tried to them seeds. 8)
That's just part of life how I grew up.

JJ · June 30, 2015, 01:37:38 PM

better check your engine compartment.
I had chipmunks fill my air box of my Toyota chock full of acorns.
Found out when I did not have power to pass somebody going 40mph, and was looking under hood to figure out why.
Thank goodness for air filter.

I also had a ford expedition (same time) and the little buggers filled the top of the hood insulation with so many acorns, I could barely lift the hood.
Had to get wife to hold the hood release while I lifted.

JJ

WV Sawmiller · June 30, 2015, 01:52:49 PM

Many years ago I rescued one from our cat and kept it in a bird cage in the house and the day I was going to release it I found it had escaped. I was heading back overseas to work and my wife raised sand about it loose in the house. My son caught it a couple days later then it escaped a week or so after that. Went through the Thxgiving and Christmas holidays with 2 cats and 3 dogs in the house with no sign of Simon. Then one day wife and son sitting watching TV and it came out of portable dishwasher and ran to dogfood dish and started stuffing dog food in cheeks. Son grabbed for it and he munk had got so fat he could not get inside quick enough. They took dishwasher apart and found 25 lbs of dry dogfood stored in there.

Gave Simon to a friend and come Spring she released it. I wonder now if chipmunk what filled my ATV with acorns last year? That's gratitude for you.

Jeff · June 30, 2015, 02:02:00 PM

The truck in the woods, that had not been ran in about two months, got an oil change and going over this month. The air filter box was plum full of acorns.

GAB · June 30, 2015, 03:24:24 PM

So sorry to hear that the little buggers failed their swimming lessons.
Gerald

gww · June 30, 2015, 05:06:29 PM

I am just glad to get the bucket with water and sunflower seed ideal.
Thanks
gww

clww · June 30, 2015, 05:12:15 PM

I don't think I've seen 111 in my life!

I see a few each year at the cabin property, but not that many.

Peter Drouin · June 30, 2015, 06:08:33 PM

I have never had a problem with them, They make a hole the size of a golf ball in the ground and don't bother anything here.
This is alvin

And Jr. :D :D :D
And yes I do feed them. :D :D ;D

Chuck White · June 30, 2015, 06:16:52 PM

At our place, Chipmunks, Red Squirrels, Gray Squirrels & Starlings are TARGETS!

Magicman · June 30, 2015, 07:06:18 PM

111.1 and counting is astounding.

With no natural predators, I guess there is nothing to keep them in check.

Jeff · June 30, 2015, 07:18:51 PM

And like I said, no sign that I have dented them yet.

thecfarm · June 30, 2015, 08:37:26 PM

111,that's a mighty lot.

I had a cat that would caught one just about every week. I always said there is not a chipmuck in a square mile of this place.

red oaks lumber · June 30, 2015, 09:28:44 PM

we have a lot of the cute little buggers, don't seem to cause much for problems

goose63 · June 30, 2015, 10:01:16 PM

Thy don't stand a chance here I now have 14 hungry cats that I know of

Peter Drouin · June 30, 2015, 11:13:55 PM

And I think it's mice that put acorns in things. Alven lives in the ground.

Jeff · June 30, 2015, 11:19:34 PM

You'd be wrong there. Alvin stores nuts everywhere. Believe me, we have plenty to observe. They don't just live in the ground. They will live in your house when they chew through your soffit. I've trapped several out of the house with rat traps after they get in. If you try and nail them out, if they had young in your house, they will chew through what ever they have to to get back in again. They will chew wiring out of a truck or sawmill and they will make holes in the ground that can break your ankle.

Left Coast Chris · June 30, 2015, 11:28:59 PM

I had the same problem with raccoons. It was a good day for me and the dog (bitten up) when I found a way to take care of the problem and keep them alive. Not sure if you could live trap the monks. You would need a pretty high number of traps getting one at a time. Maybe try the bucket trap without water if they cannot climb out (?) Next step is finding someone or somewhere to take them. Not easy either way.

Peter Drouin · June 30, 2015, 11:33:06 PM

You must have some bad ass ones out there. :D
I have never had them in the house or barn.
But there seems to be a lot of them this year. I do have a red fox running around after them.

Chuck White · July 01, 2015, 08:11:24 AM

The biggest problem we have here with chipmunks is that they tunnel under the swimming pool and then their tunnel will collapse and we have a divet in the bottom of the pool.

Just reminded by Left Coast Chris' post, we don't tollerate raccoons here either, they ravage our bird feeders!

gww · July 01, 2015, 09:02:32 AM

All these animals are neat if you see them in a brush pile in the woods or from your dearstand. When they kill your chickens, eat your stored food, eat the fruit off your trees or chew on things, they are no longer fun or cute. It is a risk moving problims cause it may become someone elses problim then. Sometimes it becomes an us or them thing and even then the amimals win as often as I do.
gww

Jeff · July 01, 2015, 09:22:05 AM

113.1

Magicman · July 01, 2015, 09:26:15 AM

Good job Jeff.

Predator/Prey balance is essential. If left to nature when all else fails, disease/epidemic will even things out. Since man has eliminated many predators, then he must assume that role. It's not necessarily a bad thing, just necessary.

Jeff · July 01, 2015, 09:28:37 AM

I'm not enjoying it. I fear I'll wake up in the middle of the night to a knock on the door, and there will be an angry 6ft tall chipmunk standing there holding one of my pails.

OntarioAl · July 01, 2015, 09:30:48 AM

Jeff
.1 of a monk?
Al

Jeff · July 01, 2015, 09:43:51 AM

as described in my first post, the .1 is the mouse I caught in the bucket too.

sandhills · July 01, 2015, 09:49:48 AM

Can't say I've ever seen one around here but striped gophers are horrible this year, and then the badgers that dig after them, hard on equipment to say the least.

Peter Drouin · July 01, 2015, 01:07:27 PM

We all do what we haft to do, For me killing is easy out smarting them is where the fun is. ;D

Magicman · July 01, 2015, 01:42:12 PM

Peter, what do you do with them after you "outsmart" them?

petefrom bearswamp · July 01, 2015, 05:16:03 PM

Wow 113.1 so far.
not a problem here but they get overpopulated on occasion.
Had to get rid of our cat so maybe they will start becoming a nuisance
I'll have to try the seed trick at my Adirondack camp for the mice.
The Adirondack trap with a beer can suspended on a wire over a few inches of h2o in the bucket and smeared with Peanut butter works but if we are gone a few weeks it stinks to high heaven.
Maybe with the number you have caught of them a side dish at the pig roast would work for disposal.
chipmunk al a Jeff
Tuff to skin tho.

beenthere · July 01, 2015, 05:31:00 PM

pete
Put antifreeze in the bucket, and they won't stink. Otherwise, works great.

BradMarks · July 01, 2015, 05:46:32 PM

Is the re-formulated antifreeze toxic to animals like the old stuff? Just wondering - incidental kill comes to mind. Had a friend who spent 10 days in jail yrs ago 'cause he found out cats liked the stuff and he didn't like cats.

Jeff · July 01, 2015, 06:10:19 PM

You must use RV antifreeze used for water lines and such. Using regular automotive antifreeze would be unconscionable.

Peter Drouin · July 01, 2015, 06:54:16 PM

Quote from: Magicman on July 01, 2015, 01:42:12 PM
Peter, what do you do with them after you "outsmart" them?

The easy thing is to take away what they're after and they go to. If you get a bigger animal live trap it and move them to the woods. But I like all of Gods, animals. God gave them instincts God gave man a brain. Just have to manage them . Most pepole kill things because they don't want to figger it out .Or hunt over a food plot/ bait, In NH we have black bears, and they love bee honey, I manage the bears too. I have outdoor gardens and the deer like stuff in there . But there's a soap they don't like. :D :D :D The wood chucks Like the gardens but not mothballs in there hole. :D

What Jeff has is easy to fix too without killing them. But they might kill each other, Not sure, Never had to get rid of over a 100 of them. :D :D

Jeff · July 01, 2015, 07:28:11 PM

I think the biggest crop of acorns we have had in 30 years here is what they were after. I think I am catching 3 generations, due to 3 distinct sizes.

doctorb · July 01, 2015, 10:02:32 PM

This is th only time I'm happy that our cat does what cats do. ;)

Gary_C · July 02, 2015, 03:33:11 AM

Relocating your problem to another person's backyard should never be a solution.

Good job in dealing with your own problem Jeff. 8)

petefrom bearswamp · July 02, 2015, 06:50:03 AM

Tried the RV antifreeze but they still stank.
Dont want to use automotive.
Jeff whats the latest count?

Peter Drouin · July 02, 2015, 07:27:56 AM

Quote from: Gary_C on July 02, 2015, 03:33:11 AM
Relocating your problem to another person's backyard should never be a solution.

Woods not a back yard.

Jim_Rogers · July 02, 2015, 07:36:09 AM

Jeff:
Can you post a picture again of the bucket? I can't seem to find it. I'd like to set one up myself, for the mice here in my shop. No cats here.

Jim Rogers

thecfarm · July 02, 2015, 07:41:24 AM

I have not dared to tell anyone that I know a guy in MI that have caught over 100 chipmunks. They would think I was lying to them.
In my little world are grey squirrels. They start to bother the bird feeder in the winter time,5-6 is a little much for this,I don't earn much money country boy. I thin them out and there are still at least one if not 2 that come back. :

Jeff · July 02, 2015, 08:36:32 AM

Current count is 114.1 Slowed down, but mostly because it has been cold and rainy. This morning the DanG furnace kicked on. I can stll hear them chirping around the yard when I am out.

Jim, here was the picture of the 5 gallon mouse trap with the beer can roller at the cabin. I had it set all winter. Got a total of 15 in it. It may have smelled slightly, but not bad at all.

Jim_Rogers · July 02, 2015, 09:09:50 AM

Thanks

gww · July 02, 2015, 09:29:50 AM

I really like the bucket ideal and had never thought of it. I am storing chicken feed in my garage and the little buggers are starting to get out of hand. I am about to imploy the bucket safe method that this thread had taught me.
Thanks for sharing.
gww

Magicman · July 02, 2015, 10:09:28 AM

Quote from: Gary_C on July 02, 2015, 03:33:11 AM
Relocating your problem to another person's backyard should never be a solution.

Actually Jeff's back yard is everyone else's back yard too. There is a wooded area in front, but that is where they are coming from, not going to. Sorta like a "chipmunk bank".

Chuck White · July 02, 2015, 11:44:45 AM

I use about 4" of used motor oil in my mouse bucket in the cellar.

Don't seem to stink, at least I've never noticed and the Mrs hasn't said anything!

Gary_C · July 02, 2015, 05:05:15 PM

Quote from: Peter Drouin on July 02, 2015, 07:27:56 AM

Woods not a back yard.

Does the owner of "Woods" allow you to dump your problems in his Woods?

When I ran a dairy farm, people (most likely from the local towns) would dump their unwanted cats, kittens, puppies, and dogs out at the end of our driveway expecting us to care and feed their problem animals. Needless to say, we did not appreciate the unwanted dumping of problem animals in rural areas.

tmarch · July 02, 2015, 07:38:38 PM

Anybody want some cats, at last count we have 16 kittens born this spring and at least 1 more litter due anytime.

Okrafarmer · July 02, 2015, 07:51:48 PM

Quote from: tmarch on July 02, 2015, 07:38:38 PM
Anybody want some cats, at last count we have 16 kittens born this spring and at least 1 more litter due anytime.

"How about----------- No."

Peter Drouin · July 02, 2015, 08:49:48 PM

Quote from: Gary_C on July 02, 2015, 05:05:15 PM
Quote from: Peter Drouin on July 02, 2015, 07:27:56 AM

Woods not a back yard.

Does the owner of "Woods" allow you to dump your problems in his Woods?

When I ran a dairy farm, people (most likely from the local towns) would dump their unwanted cats, kittens, puppies, and dogs out at the end of our driveway expecting us to care and feed their problem animals. Needless to say, we did not appreciate the unwanted dumping of problem animals in rural areas.

:D :D :D :D thought we were talking WILD animals, Not dogs and cats, That's all full to let a dog or cat go in the woods. I have 2 places one is govement land, I think 5 sq miles. The other Is a man I know with 2,500 A. And he don't care. I drive way in and let all kinds of WILD animals go. I know all the logging roads in town too. :D :D ;)

Gary_C · July 04, 2015, 05:17:53 PM

We were talking about humans relocating animals to solve our own needs. All I am saying is man has a very poor track record when it comes to managing and relocating animals to suit our needs. It's the law of unintended consequences whether you have permission or not.

Jeff · July 04, 2015, 06:22:41 PM

118.1

coxy · July 04, 2015, 09:28:04 PM

you must be getting mine to I have not seen any in 3 days :D and no pics it did not happen ;) :D :D 8) 8) 8)

boss you will have your gift before the party

Ljohnsaw · July 10, 2015, 11:57:32 PM

After reading this thread (back when it was on the first day), I went up to my property. I picked up a 8x8x14' box off of a truck to use as storage. All aluminum with a roll-up door. I put lots of hardware for my cabin build into it to free up some space in my garage. There was still some space left so I put my big ATV in it along with my son's little 90. I put my helmet on the cargo box on my ATV and my son's on the shelf unit next to his.

We go up a week later and there are droppings all over the place with some dried urine as well. I pick up my son's helmet and there is a partially chewed paper wasp nest :-\ and the little bugger chewed some of the soft cover off his chin strap. Fortunately, he didn't chew the strap.

So, I took Jeff's lead and set this out for him/them...

Peanut Butter Ritz Bits for bait...

Hoping to get up there soon to check on it. I don't see any way into the truck box - little buggers!

WmFritz · July 11, 2015, 09:08:38 AM

This thread got by me and I wish I'd seen it sooner. I think I could beat your count Jeff if we went head to head. I been on this property for nearly 30 years and I've never seen the DanG things so thick. Last year was the heaviest acorn crop I've ever had too.

My dog spends all day in the woods hunting from log to stump. Every few days she gets lucky and catches a chipmunk. When she's in the house looking out the glass doors, she looks like she's watching a tennis match, as they run back and forth on the deck.

When I fired up my boat in the driveway this Spring, I had a 5# coffee can full of acorns blow out of the exhaust. >:(

Howdy · July 14, 2015, 05:50:01 PM

The local People Eating Tasty Animals want to know the latest count.
I also would like to place my order for a Buckskin Jacket, fur lined of course.

Jeff · July 14, 2015, 09:01:05 PM

I've ceased my trapping fir now. It was never my goal to wipe them out, just to stop the problems they were causing, which I seem to have done. I still have a bag of seeds just in case.

Corley5 · July 16, 2015, 07:01:51 PM

A long term firewood client was really pleased with/proud of his pet chipmunks to the point he was buying peanuts by the 50# bag for them. Within a couple seasons he realized what he'd done and was live trapping and relocating them. He's got the population back to an acceptable level now. He didn't say how many he'd trapped or if he had to resort to lethal means of control.

deadfall · July 17, 2015, 07:10:44 PM

I'm still working on getting my population out of control. My guys don't work for peanuts.

Jeff · July 17, 2015, 08:24:46 PM

You got the seeds, yer just missing half a pail of water!

deadfall · July 18, 2015, 05:38:22 PM

I get the seeds by the 50# bag too.

Ljohnsaw · July 22, 2015, 12:54:46 AM

Forgot to post an update earlier. What I thought was a chipmunk turned out to be a big rat! I don't know how he got in the truck box - I closed it up and didn't see any light shining through anywhere. This guy was big but before the trap got him, he left his calling card all over my atv

Magicman · July 22, 2015, 07:28:25 AM

A mouse got into my shop which is impossible, that is until I accidentally left the door open one night. :-\

Al_Smith · July 22, 2015, 09:54:55 AM

Those little darlins managed to fill the air filter box of my deceased wife's Cadillac up with seeds .To make matters worse they also deposited the Decon I tried to feed them .That didn't work >:(

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