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CHIPMUNKS: Friend or Foe? You Decide!

© Barbara M. Martin

Ask any kid what squirrels and chipmunks eat during the fall and they'll immediately and firmly tell you acorns. I have long suspected our schools are out to lunch, but this takes the cake. Any gardener knows that's a bunch of hooey. Those critters don't eat acorns. THEY EAT BULBS! Crocus corms are chipmunk candy! Tulip bulbs are pure squirrel bait! But you sure don't have to take my word for it; LOTS of people have this problem!

You're not alone. Help is at hand! Here's helpful how-to advice from Southern Living in Hands Off My Crocus! and an enlightened view of the tulip vs. squirrel dilemma from Garden Guru Jacqui Heriteau.

Squirrels come under so much fire from the bird feeder folks I decided to concentrate on the lousy chipmunks. I figured smart gardeners all over the Internet would have solved the bulb swiping problem and shared their great and clever tales of smashing success.

Well, not quite. First of all, not every one thinks chipmunks are bad. Toni's Territory includes the inimitable Chipmunk Chronicles. And, although it is scheduled for deletion at some unspecified date in the future, The Chipmunk's Burrow is worth a grin while it lasts. One of our own Suite 101 Garden topics, Midwest Gardening, uses a cute chipmunk photo! I'm not kidding! Well, even I admit they can be kind of cute.

Chipmunks are sort of famous, too. Remember Alvin? Here's the Alvin and the Chipmunks Unofficial Home Page. Chipmunk cartoon fans will also recognize Chip 'n' Dale at the Everything Rescue Rangers site including, of course, the music in several versions!

For those of us who might be willing to consider the darker side of chipmunks, here is an odd bit of chipmunk-inspired fiction in serial form — with the ending yet to be revealed: The Synergy Crystal Saga.

On a more realistic bent, what are gardeners supposed to do about those critters? Well, here are some downright serious squirrel tactics from Horticulture Solutions. Those University of Illinois types also debunk that old mothball trick and cast some doubt on the dried blood method, too.

Perhaps we could interest you in some multipurpose Mole Mix? I'd love to know if it works!

Or perhaps this little series of solutions from Uncommon Answers to Common Gardening Questions at the Old Farmer's Almanac! I am considering the woodchuck remedy already.

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