Chipmunk Removal & Control

 

Professional Chipmunk Removal in Northern Illinois & Southern Wisconsin

Chipmunks may look harmless, but their burrowing can create problems around homes and structures. Extensive tunneling beneath paver patios, cement stoops, porches, and other hardscaped areas can undermine the ground supporting these surfaces.

 

Chipmunks can also gain access to crawl spaces and other protected areas, where they may disturb insulation, leave droppings, and store food.

 

Dennison Wildlife Control & Prevention provides professional chipmunk removal and exclusion for homeowners dealing with burrowing, structural concerns, and chipmunk activity around their property.

 

Seeing chipmunks around your home or noticing burrows near a patio, stoop, or foundation? Contact us to schedule an inspection.

 

Signs of Chipmunk Activity

Chipmunks are primarily active during the day, making their activity easier to observe than many other wildlife species.

 

Common signs include:

• Small burrow openings around foundations

• Burrows beneath patios, stoops, steps, or porches

• Soil displaced around hardscaped areas

• Chipmunks repeatedly entering the same opening

• Chewed or damaged materials around crawl-space access points

• Droppings or food storage discovered in a crawl space

• Disturbed landscaping or garden areas

• Chipmunks entering gaps around foundations or structures

 

Multiple burrow openings around the same area can indicate an established population.

 

Chipmunks Under Patios, Stoops & Porches

One of the biggest concerns with chipmunks is their burrowing activity beneath hardscaped areas.

 

Chipmunks may excavate beneath:

• Paver patios

• Cement stoops

• Porches

• Steps

• Walkways

• Retaining walls

• Foundation edges

 

As soil is removed, voids can develop beneath these structures. Over time, this may contribute to settling, shifting, cracking, or uneven surfaces. The risk depends on the location, amount of excavation, drainage, soil conditions, and construction of the area.

 

A professional inspection can determine where chipmunks are burrowing and whether their activity may be contributing to an existing structural or hardscape problem.

 

Chipmunks in Crawl Spaces

Chipmunks can sometimes find their way into crawl spaces through gaps around foundations, vents, doors, and other openings. Once inside, they may use the crawl space for shelter and food storage.

 

Potential problems include:

• Disturbed insulation

• Droppings and urine

• Food storage

• Nesting material

• Damaged materials

• Unpleasant odors

• Increased insect activity around stored food

 

Food stored by chipmunks can include seeds, nuts, and other materials that may attract insects if left undisturbed in an enclosed space.

 

If chipmunks are accessing a crawl space, addressing the entry point is an important part of preventing the problem from continuing.

 

Learn more about chipmunks: Visit our Chipmunk Species Profile to learn more about chipmunk behavior, activity, burrowing, entry points, and other useful information.

 

Common Chipmunk Entry & Burrowing Areas

Chipmunks commonly take advantage of areas where soil, landscaping, and structures meet.

 

Foundation Areas

Gaps and protected areas around foundations can provide access to crawl spaces and other sheltered locations.

 

Patios & Walkways

The edges of paver patios and walkways can provide opportunities for burrowing underneath hardscaped surfaces.

 

Porches & Stoops

Open areas beneath porches, steps, and stoops can provide protected burrowing locations.

 

Crawl-Space Vents

Damaged or improperly protected vents can allow chipmunks into crawl spaces.

 

Landscaping

Dense landscaping, retaining walls, rock beds, and other features can provide cover and suitable locations for burrows.

 

Chipmunk Burrowing & Property Damage

Chipmunk burrows are often small, but repeated excavation can affect the areas surrounding a home.

 

Potential problems include:

• Undermining paver patios

• Settling or shifting pavers

• Voids beneath stoops and steps

• Soil erosion around structures

• Damage to landscaping

• Access into crawl spaces

• Disturbed insulation

• Contamination from droppings and stored food

 

Chipmunks don't necessarily cause immediate structural damage, but ongoing burrowing beneath hardscaped areas can become a problem that is more expensive to correct if left unaddressed.

 

How We Handle Chipmunk Problems

1. Inspect

We identify active burrows, determine where chipmunks are traveling, and inspect accessible areas for evidence of activity.

 

2. Remove

We determine the appropriate wildlife-control method based on the location, activity, and circumstances of the problem.

 

3. Exclude

Once chipmunk activity has been addressed, accessible entry points can be secured to prevent access to crawl spaces and other areas of the structure.

 

4. Repair & Restore

If chipmunks have disturbed insulation, contaminated an area, or contributed to damage around a structure, repairs or restoration may be recommended.

 

5. Prevent

We identify conditions that encourage continued chipmunk activity and recommend practical measures to reduce future burrowing and access.

 

What Should You Do If You Find Chipmunk Burrows?

If you find chipmunk burrows beneath a patio, stoop, porch, or near your foundation, don't simply fill the holes and assume the problem is solved. There may be additional burrows or an active route into another area of the property.

 

If chipmunks are entering a crawl space, sealing an opening before determining whether animals are still inside can also create additional problems. An inspection can help determine the extent of the activity and what needs to be addressed.

 

Chipmunk Removal Service Areas

Dennison Wildlife Control & Prevention provides chipmunk removal and exclusion throughout Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin.

 

We commonly service communities throughout:

McHenry County • Lake County • Northwest Cook County • Boone County • Kenosha County • Walworth County

 

For more information, visit our Service Areas page to see the communities we commonly serve.

 

If you don't see your town listed, contact us anyway. We service additional surrounding communities.

 

Have a Chipmunk Problem?

Whether you're finding burrows beneath a paver patio, seeing chipmunks around your foundation, or discovering evidence of activity inside a crawl space, the first step is determining where the animals are burrowing and whether they are accessing the structure.

 

Contact Dennison Wildlife Control & Prevention to schedule a professional chipmunk inspection.

Chipmunk Removal • Burrow Control • Crawl-Space Protection • Exclusion • Prevention