Need Chipmunk-proofing Ideas

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

I have 8 cherry and grape tomato plants from which I have not been able to harvest a single tomato.

My resident chipmunk is having a feast.  I just saw him scramble up the tomato cage, help himself to one of the 2 currently-ripe cherry tomatoes left on all of the plants, scramble back down, and sit on the stone steps of my patio and munch away.  

I now know who ate the gorgeous patio tomatoes from the plant on my back step -- one little bite at a time.  

I am NOT pleased about his brazen thievery.  I did NOT plant those tomatoes to fill his stupid little striped tummy.

Has anyone successfully chipmunk-proofed their tomatoes?  If so, how?  Chicken wire, etc. won't work -- he can easily fit in through the holes.  He'll probably chomp through blueberry netting.  I need some sort of acrylic or glass surround, right?  

Aaaargggghhh.  Winter is so long and so dark in these parts.  One way I get through winter is by looking forward to fresh, native, homegrown garden produce -- especially REAL tomatoes.  Now I am being defeated by a stupid little rodent.  Who needs chipmunks?  What benefit do they bring to the universe?  Why in God's name did God create chipmunks?  

Oy vey.  

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

Ooops.  I meant to post this on YMOT.  I am obviously distracted by the repeated attacks on my tomatoes' security.  

Can a mod please move it?  

Thank you!!  

[Deleted]

I found this out on the web:

www.nj.com/homegarden/tomatoes/index.ssf/2009/04/squirrelproofing_your_tomatoes.html

I received three questions this week on squirrels and chipmunks wreaking havoc in gardens. I know from experience that the only truly effective control for keeping wildlife out of gardens is exclusion. There is one method for excluding squirrels around tomatoes that I have used myself. First, it is best to grow tomatoes in a cage with heavy duty support stakes on each side.

Once you have your sturdy tomato cage in place, you can use bird netting around the cage to keep squirrels out. A simple way to accomplish this is to purchase four extra long tomato stakes and place them outside of the cage. Now wrap the outside in bird netting and be sure to cover the top. Use string or bungee cords to secure the netting.

Some squirrels and chipmunks are so persistent that they will chew or push their way through bird netting or other plastic fence barriers. In that case, you may need to construct a tougher squirrel-proof cage. A larger and lighter removable cage made of chicken wire will fit over the permanent tomato cage.

To prevent squirrels from crawling under or getting inside of the cage, the holes must be no more than 2 inches in diameter, and the cage needs to be temporarily secured in the ground. You can then remove the lighter chicken wire cage when you are ready to harvest tomatoes. To exclude the smaller chipmunks, overlap two layers of chicken wire and stagger the openings to reduce their size.

[justme]

My thought would be something that stops him from climbing up the pots (or down the wire) if they're hanging. My parents have aluminum cones that sit about a foot above their bird feeders. It's slick and not stable so whenever a chipmunk or squirrel gets on it the cone tilts and the slide off. If they're pots on the ground maybe some cone-type thing at the right angle would be unclimbable?

[sesfw]

<sigh>  all I can offer is a sympathetic hug and a good luck.

They are smart little critters.

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

Ahhhhhh, I hadn't thought of staggering the holes of the chicken wire to reduce the size.  Some people are so brilliant!!

Thanks, Beer!!!!  You're a fountain of knowledge!!!!  

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

Aug 13, 2013 9:47:35 GMT -5 justme said:

My thought would be something that stops him from climbing up the pots (or down the wire) if they're hanging. My parents have aluminum cones that sit about a foot above their bird feeders. It's slick and not stable so whenever a chipmunk or squirrel gets on it the cone tilts and the slide off. If they're pots on the ground maybe some cone-type thing at the right angle would be unclimbable?

Hmmm, I wonder if those cones that dogs wear around their necks to keep them from licking incisions would work...

Or, where could I buy some sheets of aluminum that I could bend into a cone shape.  Aluminum is fairly pliable, right?  Or am I think of tin?

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

Aug 13, 2013 9:47:44 GMT -5 sesfw said:

<sigh>  all I can offer is a sympathetic hug and a good luck.

They are smart little critters.

Thanks, Sesfw.

I ran out into my backyard after it, just now, and yelled at it.  

I am certain that the neighbors have now confirmed their suspicions -- I AM a raving lunatic.  

[Deleted]

Aug 13, 2013 9:48:13 GMT -5 GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl said:

Ahhhhhh, I hadn't thought of staggering the holes of the chicken wire to reduce the size.  Some people are so brilliant!!

Thanks, Beer!!!!  You're a fountain of knowledge!!!!  

Nah....googling is my Superpower, though! 

[justme]

Aug 13, 2013 9:51:39 GMT -5 GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl said:

Aug 13, 2013 9:47:35 GMT -5 justme said:

My thought would be something that stops him from climbing up the pots (or down the wire) if they're hanging. My parents have aluminum cones that sit about a foot above their bird feeders. It's slick and not stable so whenever a chipmunk or squirrel gets on it the cone tilts and the slide off. If they're pots on the ground maybe some cone-type thing at the right angle would be unclimbable?

Hmmm, I wonder if those cones that dogs wear around their necks to keep them from licking incisions would work...

Or, where could I buy some sheets of aluminum that I could bend into a cone shape.  Aluminum is fairly pliable, right?  Or am I think of tin?

I could be wrong on the material, I know it's some time of flexible material. But my dad's handy and keeps a lot of stuff around so who knows. I would assume any material that's sturdy enough not to collapse under the weight of a chipmunk and is slick would work.

[mmhmm]

I moved the thread for you, GRG.  As to the chipmunk, what can I say?  They're cute little beggars! 

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

Aug 13, 2013 9:57:14 GMT -5 justme said:

Aug 13, 2013 9:51:39 GMT -5 GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl said:

Hmmm, I wonder if those cones that dogs wear around their necks to keep them from licking incisions would work...

Or, where could I buy some sheets of aluminum that I could bend into a cone shape.  Aluminum is fairly pliable, right?  Or am I think of tin?

I could be wrong on the material, I know it's some time of flexible material. But my dad's handy and keeps a lot of stuff around so who knows. I would assume any material that's sturdy enough not to collapse under the weight of a chipmunk and is slick would work.

I can't be the first/only gardener with this problem, so there is probably some expensive version already made that I can buy at a garden center or from Gardens Alive, but I AM cheap, and prefer to fashion my own solutions if I can -- although no one would ever put the word "handy" and my name in the same sentence.  We have a little, independent, family-owned, 100-year-old-or-so building supply store nearby.  I'm going to try and get over there today or tomorrow and see what they can suggest I use.  

[justme]

Oh, and our old neighbors took to shooting the buggers with pellet guns. Not enough to maim or harm, but I forget how effective it was at keeping them away permanently.

Also keep anything else they can climb up several feet away. In the hay-day of my parents fights with the chipmunks when they realized the cones were stopping them they'd climb up the screen wall on the porch and jump 2 maybe 3 feet to the feeder. It was hilarious. My parents had to put the feeder further out from the screen and then you'd just see chipmunks divebomb off the screen and not make it.

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

Aug 13, 2013 10:00:46 GMT -5 mmhmm said:

I moved the thread for you, GRG.  As to the chipmunk, what can I say?  They're cute little beggars! 

Thanks, mmhmm!!!!

But, NO, NO, NO, NO!!!!!!!  They are NOT cute!!!!!!  Nor are they beggars.  They are brazen thieves.  They are a scourge to gardeners everywhere.  They are a threat to the very future of homegrown, REAL (not those force-riped plastic things they sell in the grocery store in January), tomatoes. 

Let's not start a "snow leopard" type thing for chipmunks, here, mmhmm...      

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

Aug 13, 2013 10:02:00 GMT -5 justme said:

Oh, and our old neighbors took to shooting the buggers with pellet guns. Not enough to maim or harm, but I forget how effective it was at keeping them away permanently.

Also keep anything else they can climb up several feet away. In the hay-day of my parents fights with the chipmunks when they realized the cones were stopping them they'd climb up the screen wall on the porch and jump 2 maybe 3 feet to the feeder. It was hilarious. My parents had to put the feeder further out from the screen and then you'd just see chipmunks divebomb off the screen and not make it.

They are possessed, I tell you, possessed.

With "survival" I'll grant you, but, Wow!, they clearly don't give up easily, do they? 

[Deleted]

We trapped and released 6 about a mile away the summer before last. The kids named them Alvin, Simon, Theodore, Brittany, Eleanor, and Jeanette. 

We'll take a ride on the bike path and go visit them every once in a while. 

[justme]

No, they don't. And the main battle ensued when I was a young teen, so it was quite hilarious to see my parents in a battle of wits with the chipmunks - and have the chipmunks out smart them several times. Smashes any illusion that's left at that age that your parents are smart and know everything.

[mmhmm]

We gave up a long time ago.  Now, we just feed them.  I find it farcical the human race believes itself superior.  We're the slaves, folks.  Get used to it. 

[busymom]

We've got a couple of live traps we'd be happy to loan you.    When you catch 'em, drive the little critter inside your trap to someone's house that you don't like, & turn 'em loose. 

[Virgil Showlion]

Since nobody has mentioned it yet: ultrasonic pest devices usually work well on squirrels.

If chicken wire doesn't do the trick, google "ultrasonic squirrel repellant".

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

Are chipmunks the same as squirrels?

Around here, they are different animals.  

[Deleted]

 I had a neighbor who had a large garden and solved his chipmunk problem by feeding a stray tomcat just enough to keep it resident, but not quite enough to keep it fat and happy.
 He was not a "cat person", and there was no particular affection between the gardener and the cat... as far as I know, he never touched the cat at all. They had a "working relationship". Symbiotic. The cat was not dependent upon the gardener, really... but the gardener had a taste for fresh produce, and the cat had a healthy appetite for fresh chipmunk.

[Icelandic Woman]

Should I feel bad that I think Chipmunks are adorable? Sorry GRG Maybe you could distract them from the tomato plants by putting out nuts for them instead.

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

Aug 13, 2013 13:34:11 GMT -5 @patiencetried said:

 I had a neighbor who had a large garden and solved his chipmunk problem by feeding a stray tomcat just enough to keep it resident, but not quite enough to keep it fat and happy.
 He was not a "cat person", and there was no particular affection between the gardener and the cat... as far as I know, he never touched the cat at all. They had a "working relationship". Symbiotic. The cat was not dependent upon the gardener, really... but the gardener had a taste for fresh produce, and the cat had a healthy appetite for fresh chipmunk.

That's another frustrating piece about this whole thing:  my immediate next door neighbor has 2 cats that think my yard is their yard.  

Sure, they catch mice, birds, chipmunks, moles, snakes, etc.  

But, other than the birds which they tend to eat in full view of the window over my much-used kitchen sink, they catch and then PLAY with the everything else.  They carry the animal just tight enough in their mouths and walk around with it squirming trying to break free.  Then, the cats lie down, and let the animal go...and then pounce on it again...rinse and repeat...rinse and repeat.  

EAT THE DA*N CHIPMUNKS, you silly cats!!!!!

[Deleted]

 Chipmunks are arguably among the cutest of all vermin.

[Happy prose]

The one summer I gardened, I lost the battle to groundhogs. They're impossible!

[AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP]

What you will need:

1 plant sprayer (like window cleaner spray bottle)
1 gallon of water
1 quarter cup of hot sauce- I prefer Lousiana brand, but whatever if you're not going to use it for yourself anyway.

Directions

Mix water and hot sauce, fill plant sprayer with solution, spray plants. They may pay you one or two more visits, but they WILL stop coming.

[AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP]

Aug 13, 2013 10:47:24 GMT -5 mmhmm said:

We gave up a long time ago.  Now, we just feed them.  I find it farcical the human race believes itself superior.  We're the slaves, folks.  Get used to it. 

 I know, right?

Well, today I made fresh spaghetti sauce from my own tomatoes, my own oregano, my own thyme, my own basil, my own garlic, and extra virgin olive oil and some Vidalia onions I bought.  It was fantastic.  So much better than dry herbs, and canned tomatoes.  Worth the slaving.

[mmhmm]

Spaghetti sauce sounds delicious, paul.  I make my own, as well, and always use fresh ingredients.  Both my kids have gardens and I've several friends who have farms.  I'm always up to my elbows in fresh veggies and we love them!  This year, there were fewer.  So much rain wreaked havoc on a lot of the crops.

[Deleted]

We tried grown tomato's a couple of years in a row. Between squirrels & birds we got a harvest of exactly none. Right about that time I realized that we didn't have a garden, we had a buffet. So...we switched to grown hot peppers. They never bothered the peppers.  So it worked except there is a limit to how many hot peppers that you can eat & freeze. This year our garden is flowers (& it's doing pretty well).