How to Get Rid of Squirrels and Chipmunks Together

If you are trying to figure out how to get rid of squirrels and chipmunks, start with the source of the problem, not the latest noise maker or scented spray. These animals come for easy food, sheltered nesting spots, and quiet hiding places, then they keep coming back until those needs are removed. The fix is a mix of exclusion, cleanup, and targeted deterrents that make your attic, roofline, and yard far less attractive.

What attracts squirrels and chipmunks in the first place

Food, cover, and nesting spots

Squirrels and chipmunks move in where food is easy and cover is close. Bird seed, pet food, fallen fruit, acorns, garden bulbs, compost, brush piles, and open trash all draw them in. In homes, gaps at roof edges, vents, soffits, and chimneys give squirrels access to insulation and nesting space. Chipmunks stay closer to the ground and use burrows, stone borders, mulch, and dense plantings for shelter.

What they eat

What do squirrels and chipmunks eat? Both eat nuts, seeds, grains, fruits, fungi, and garden crops. Chipmunks also stash food in cheek pouches and bury it near burrow entrances. Squirrels raid feeders, chew fruit, and strip bark when food is scarce. Removing that food is the fastest way to reduce activity around your home.

How to keep squirrels and chipmunks away from your yard

Remove the easy rewards

How to keep squirrels and chipmunks away starts with sanitation. Use wildlife-proof trash cans, bring pet food indoors, and clean up fallen seed from bird feeders every day. Switch to feeders with catch trays and place them at least 10 feet from fences, rooflines, and tree limbs. Pick up dropped fruit, and mow around trees and shrubs so animals have less cover.

Block access to food and shelter

Trim tree branches 8 to 10 feet away from your roof. Store firewood at least 20 feet from the house and raise it off the ground. Seal compost, cover garden beds with mesh when plants are young, and close gaps under sheds and porches with 1/4 inch hardware cloth. For chipmunks, fill unused burrows after confirming the area is inactive and reduce mulch depth around foundations to 2 inches or less.

How to keep squirrels out of attics and homes

Find and seal entry points

Squirrels get in through chewed fascia, roof vents, soffit gaps, loose flashing, and uncapped chimneys. Inspect the roofline from the ground with binoculars, then seal openings with metal flashing, 1/4 inch hardware cloth, and heavy gauge hardware mesh. Use exterior-grade sealant only as a backing material, not as the main barrier. Replace damaged vent screens with pest-rated covers.

Remove animals before sealing

Do not trap a squirrel inside the attic. Set a one-way exit device on the active opening for 3 to 7 days, then seal the hole after the animals stop using it. If you hear juveniles, wait until they are old enough to travel with the mother, then exclude the family together. After removal, replace soiled insulation and disinfect nesting areas.

What repels squirrels and chipmunks

Deterrents that work as part of a larger plan

What repels squirrels and chipmunks is not one miracle product. Motion-activated sprinklers, bright lighting in dark yard corners, and hardware barriers work better than smell alone. For planting beds, use 1/2 inch wire mesh under mulch or around bulbs. For feeders, baffles and weighted, squirrel-resistant designs stop the easy payoff and reduce visits fast.

Repellents and scent products

What deters chipmunks and squirrels in scent form is limited. Capsaicin-based repellents, predator urine products, and strong-smelling sprays can reduce browsing for a short time, but rain and watering wash them away. Apply these only where labeled, then pair them with physical barriers. A deterrent for chipmunks and squirrels works best when it changes access, not just smell.

What kills chipmunks and squirrels, and what does not

Use humane control first

What kills chipmunks and squirrels is not the answer most homeowners need. The practical approach is removal, exclusion, and habitat change. Live trapping is legal in some places and restricted in others, so check local rules before using it. If trapping is allowed, move the animal only where local law permits, and never separate young from a nursing mother.

Avoid poisons and unsafe shortcuts

Rodenticides are a poor choice for squirrels and chipmunks. They create odor problems, risk poisoning pets and non-target wildlife, and do not solve attic access or yard attractants. Snap traps around homes also create hazards for children and pets and are not the right first step for these species. Seal, clean, and exclude instead.

Do squirrels and chipmunks get along

Shared spaces, not friendship

Do squirrels and chipmunks get along? They can occupy the same yard without direct conflict, but they do not cooperate. They compete for food, nesting spots, and cover. Squirrels dominate feeders and larger perches, while chipmunks stay low to the ground and work burrows, brush, and stone edges. If both are present, your yard is providing multiple food sources and hiding places.

Do squirrels eat chipmunks?

Squirrels do not hunt chipmunks as normal prey. They are not predators in the way hawks, foxes, or snakes are. If a dead chipmunk is found near a squirrel area, it is more likely from a predator, disease, vehicle strike, or a fight with another animal. Focus on reducing food and shelter rather than assuming one species is eating the other.

When to call an exterminator for squirrels and chipmunks

If an attic, wall, or chimney is active, or if animals keep returning after you seal obvious gaps, call a wildlife control pro. An exterminator for squirrels and chipmunks is most useful when you need safe removal from a roofline, exclusion on tall structures, or repairs after chewing and nesting damage. Call right away if you hear scratching at dawn or dusk, see insulation scattered, or find repeated gnaw marks around vents and fascia.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get rid of squirrels and chipmunks fast?

Remove the food source, seal entry points, and install physical barriers. Clean up bird seed, secure trash, trim branches away from the roof, and block holes with metal mesh or flashing. For chipmunks, reduce cover and protect bulbs and beds with wire mesh.

What is the best deterrent for chipmunks and squirrels?

The best deterrent is a physical barrier, such as hardware cloth, vent covers, baffles, and buried mesh around garden beds. Motion sprinklers and capsaicin sprays help, but barriers produce the most reliable results.

How do I keep chipmunks and squirrels away from bird feeders?

Use squirrel-resistant feeders, a pole baffle, and a location at least 10 feet from jump points. Sweep up dropped seed daily and switch to seed blends that create less waste.

Do I need professional help for attic squirrels?

Yes, if the animals are inside walls, the attic is hard to access, or the roof has multiple openings. A wildlife removal pro can exclude the animals without trapping them inside and can repair the access points so they do not return.