To expect anything else is to set yourself up for heartbreak in your beautiful wildlife garden! As sure as you plant those bulbs or perennials a squirrel or chipmunk will discover the fresh dirt smell and pop those plants right out of the soil. Dang them!
On a recent visit home, our son had an encounter with one of Clay and Limestone‘s critters. I should tell you that he’s been living in an urban area while working on his doctorate and has forgotten what our suburban wilderness is like. So, when he burst out of the guest room complaining that there was a “really loud bird that has been chirping for hours and is keeping me awake!” I hid my smile and said, “That’s no bird, that’s a chipmunk!”
Sure enough, when we stepped out on the porch we could see the little lady perched on a rock and chirping her heart out. The female Eastern Chipmunk (Tamias striatus) will chirp to alert that there is danger or to attract a mate. Since she had been chirping all morning, it’s more likely that she was trying to attract a mate.
If our little chirper is successful she will be pregnant for a little over a month and give birth to several young (two to seven) that she will kick out of the nest in six to eight weeks.
Eastern Chipmunk
Most people consider them cute little critters but, gardeners and home owners find them to be a huge pain in the patoot. They can cause damage to porches and foundations; destroy stone walls; raid bird feeders; dig and uproot flowers and vegetables; and, as we learned earlier, they are noisy.
Many of the suggestions for managing chipmunks don’t make sense for wildlife gardeners or for many homeowners. I garden for wildlife and want critters to visit and live in the garden. Instead, we learn to do what makes sense. Like not leaving pet food in the garden or using bird feeders that are rodent proof. I also use hardware cloth to protect valuable spring blooming bulbs from being consumed during the winter during our warm spells.
What helps me cope with the smaller pests is my awareness that things can be worse!
They do make me smile.
© 2011, Gail Eichelberger. All rights reserved. This article is the property of BeautifulWildlifeGarden.com If you are reading this at another site, please report that to us
About Gail Eichelberger
You are so right…you have to take the good with the bad if you garden for wildlife. I accepted that and have been happier for it…I love the surprises (Ok not all of them) but I don’t get so worked up about it. I know the critters will do damage all winter and I will pick up and move on. For some critters there is little you can do. I happen to like chipmunks a lot, but we don’t get many…now voles..that’s another story…not really cute and they are the main destructive force in my garden. I was hoping the snakes would keep them at bay…we shall see…
Donna@Gardens Eye View recently posted..Friend
Donna, The voles have gotten bad here and so have the chipmunks! They love that I have removed rocks and now have tunneled through my best borders! Gail’s latest post… Not The Climate For Xeric
Cute posting Gail…love that last shot. We are supposed to have chipmunks around here but I haven’t seen (or heard) them. Somebody makes a lot of tunnels under my garden and not always eating the roots of the plants…so not sure who that might be. (some plants, roots and all ARE eaten so I know I have some voles)
As for noises of wildlife, I am amazed at all the different calls of the crows. Chatty critters!!
Cute critters you’ve got, Gail. I use chicken wire in the bottoms of ALL my beds with good success.
Kathy @nativegardener recently posted..Pitter Patter.. First Rain for Topanga this Season
Hmm, we have lots of chipmunks but I’ve never known them to cause much damage. Probably a result of having 2 dogs obsessed with trying to catch them. The ‘munks sit on our stone wall and chirp at the dogs and I’m sure I’ve seen them thumb their noses at them a few times too. Now voles are another story. We did get a new cat this year who has been highly successful at catching voles, but unfortunately he also enjoys hunting birds and broke my heart this summer when he caught a hummingbird. Sigh. It is tough trying to keep the nature in our own backyards in balance…
I, I so agree with you. Nothing more heartwarming than that song of the crickets in the evening or song of the birds – or chipmunks – in the morning.
My oh MY! That Raccoon ornament looks so realistic hanging on the feeder
Great piece Gail. I laughed about the constant chirping. I have a cousin who inquired about how long the chirping birds were going to continue at night this past spring….the mockers were just trying to woo. I always suggest headphones.
Loret recently posted..The Sulphur Butterfly Emerged Already!
It is great to have these animals as visitors. Your suggestions on not tempting them to create damage to our gardens are great. I think these animals are fascinating and I would love to have a harmonious relationship with them.
Deborah recently posted..how to meet women
Lovely post Gail! It’s so heartwarming to see birds in our garden. The first photo looks so realistic hanging on the feeder.
Kimberly Anderson recently posted..Chevy Radio Controlled Model Cars
Hi Gail
Your garden sounds a lot like my garden. Love the photo of the raccoon – I have taken similar ones myself.
Great article, thanks for sharing!
Geoff
Geoff Clarke recently posted..Canadian Animals in my Garden