I have been able to live and garden in harmony with the chipmunks in the rural area we live in Connecticut. But it seems over the last 2 years or so the chipmunks have taken advantage of any prior agreement we had, getting more and more emboldened. This year when they started to tear up planters in a screened-in porch I became alarmed but when they undermined a sidewalk and a retaining wall that was it. The mason performing the repair work uncovered a munk burrow that ran about 10 feet and almost a foot high, cleanly excavated. They are no longer cute, they are vermin over running our property, and not only costing serious money for repairs but they're creating a hazard as well. Like many on this thread I too felt guilty about eliminating chipmunks ... but have become increasingly frustrated and desperate when the population exploded and over ran our property and garden areas. Destructive, brazen and invasive is ALL an understatement when I see what these cute little critters have become. While I feel I need to eliminate them I want to do it as humanely as possible, and since it is illegal to relocate them in the state of CT, the Hav-A-Heart trap presents the dilemma of having to "off them" yourself and watch them die. I think I have solved the problem ... the RAT ZAPPER. An animal control professional I spoke to (off the record) indicated that "electrocution" is the fastest, most humane and cleanest way to do what has to be done. I bought my first "zapper" and eliminated 21 munks in approximately 10 days. Since then I bought 2 more and now there are almost 50 critters that no longer make their home in the area around my foundation, sidewalks and retaining walls. Granted the "pool of death" (the bucket) does work, but this is cleaner, more convenient ... no bucket to maintain/seed to replenish. I place a little pile of sunflower seed at the back of the chamber and flip the switch. And location seems to be important. Under shrubs and near visible, active holes seems to be most effective. Interestingly, an Ohio State University critter/pest management site I visited indicated that 10 chipmunks or more per acre is considered an infestation population. I have caught almost five times that number, so I assume I am dealing with nature being way out of balance, at least as far as the chipmunk population. If you're getting more and desperate, try the Zapper, it works.

Thanks so much for your great replies and ideas! ÂDenn, rat traps, in my experience, are difficult to handle, but I'm glad you have good experience with them. Watch your finger, though! We tried them, but caught nothing. Also they had to be snapped before dusk, so an unlucky coon wouldn't get a foot snapped. (We have lately been very sucessful w/live traps, though) ÂSandy, a feline would be very nice, but how do you solve the toilet problem? Does she use a litter box in the shed? Or does she go in the woods? What I didn't know, but learned this afternoon, is that weasels (not ferrets!) are indiginous to my area. That's great news! for it would be ideal if the chipmunk population could be controlled by natural means by getting indigenous weasels established. The area has acres and acres of uncultivated land, stone fences, woods, & wetlands, plus lots of food (chipmunks, woodchucks, racoons). If weasels don't settle here on their own, I hope to find a source, or locate an organization that would settle some weasels in the woods around here. Here is a link that might be useful: Weasel indigenous to New England (?)

Over the last few months I have had some serious damage done to my yard, landscaping, and sidewalks by chipmunks which seem to be "dividing and growing" daily. At first I thought the one or two I saw was "cute"--even feeding them a couple peanuts. Boy, was I stupid. I tried to dissuade the chipmunks by repellent powders, letting my indoor cats roam the backyard, and filling their holes but as everyone already knows none of that works. Meanwhile I am having hundreds of dollars of flowers uprooted and/or eaten, holes dug everywhere, and undermining of my garden edging and walkways. I bought two Havahart 0745 traps (from Amazon) and within 15 minutes of unboxing them had a chipmunk trapped. My initial plan was to "relocate" the chipmunks, but with experts saying you need to move them anywhere from 2, 5 or even 20 miles away, I quickly realized that with the large number of chips I'm dealing with that it would be a logistical nightmare (and probably not very nice to the homeowners in the new area) to try and relocate them. Like Alice, I too believe that drowning is a cruel way to exterminate even vermin/pest animals. This is why I bought the Havaharts and didn't use the bucket of water method. I won't go so far as to call someone mentally disturbed if they do so, but I will certainly call that person ignorant (not utilizing a more humane method of extermination or realizing the panic and suffering the animal goes through) and callous for being able to stomach the thought of an animal desperately struggling for air. So rather than dumping the chip off in someone else's yard, I immediately ran out to the local big box store and purchased a pellet gun--you can get a decent quality rifle for less than $60 most places. I came home, loaded a single lead pellet, aimed between the bars of the havahart and performed an instant and humane extermination. If one lives "in the city", you can buy a air-powered pistol instead of a rifle, making it less conspicuous. They are practically silent, relatively inexpensive, and readily available. Lastly, drowning animals (even vermin) IS considered by most local laws to be inhumane and cruel. See below for an interesting story of a man in NJ that was arrested, charged, and fined for animal cruelty for live-trapping squirrels and drowning them in the cage. More interesting? He was turned into police by his wife. Even more interesting? This particular link is from Field and Stream--a hunting enthusiast site. Read the article comments, though...even among hunters Drowning is considering cruel by most and even "sick" by some. Here is a link that might be useful: Man fined for drowning squirrels

I have learned that trying to shame someone as a means to getting them to reconsider their actions doesn't work. So,..instead I thought I'd ask some good questions: 1) If a neighbor had a dog you didn't like, would throwing the dog in your swimming pool be a reasonable solution? 2) How about someone's cat? 3) Why is it perfectly fine, to drown Chipmunks or any animal? 4) Would you be completely "comfortable", watching a Chipmunk drown? Watching it fight for its life, in total panic, total terror, steadily tiring,...but still trying,...and finally exhausted,...breathes water in,....and finally succumbs. Is that something that causes no anxiety at all? 5) Would you let your 6 year old child watch the Chipmunk drown? 6) Its illegal to drown any animal in many states; there must be a reason,....right? One person in 100 in this country are a Psychopath. I don't think everyone at this site is a Psychopath, but some how, you guys think drowning animals is acceptable. I can't even get my head around drowning animals,..just because its "efficient". Atomic bombs are efficient too, we don't use them for obvious reasons. Well,...now my personal story with Chipmunks. I had one that got injured by a a neighbors cat. So,...I brought him inside, and nursed him back to health. What I would ask everyone to consider,...is that (like people),...an animal you don't know,...is seen in a different light, when you have the chance to "meet them",..and get to know them. As I cared for this Chipmunk,...I made a number of amazing observations. One,...they dream. I watched him make a nest,...and curl up on his side,..and go to sleep. Then I saw,....his muzzle twitching,...his little hands and feet moving....just like a dog. They aren't just "rats with a bushy tail". When he was healthy, I released him in a nice wooded area. And ever since,...my wife and I feed the Chipmunks on our deck,....and its loads of fun, watching them stuff their pouches,...some of them come over to the picture window and stand on their hind feet,..and look inside our house to see if anyone is home. We have had no problems with them,...no garden problems,...no "wires",...no wood problems. Maaaaaybe,...its cuz we offer them something. I've heard campers hang smelly food items a mile away from their camp site so the bears have something to go after. Guys,....why not work WITH NATURE,..instead of against it. Trapping and releasing Squirrels and Chipmunks works,....feeding them has worked for us,...and we've enjoyed watching them. I was even patient enough to sit still on the deck,...with sun flower seed in my hand,...and had a few come eat out of my hand. So,...I wish at least some of you,...would reconsider killing them. There are other ways of dealing with them in most cases. They have a pretty hard life as it is,...snakes,...raptors, Owls, and worst of all cats. If even one person "rethought" the whole thing,...writing this would feel worth it.