How to live trap chipmunks in New Hampshire | Chipmunk

How to live trap chipmunks

Live trapping offending animals is one of the most practical solutions for homeowners. Use small cage traps — 5-inch x 5-inch x 16-inch with ½-inch x 1-inch mesh. Bait the traps with sunflower or pumpkin seeds, or pieces of fruit. Place the traps along foundations where chipmunks have been seen, at den openings, or where damage is occurring. Make sure the trap is sitting flat and level so that it does not move when the chipmunk enters.

Prebaiting the trap will increase your likelihood of success. Place bait in the trap for 2-3 days with the doors wired open, so the chipmunk will get conditioned to this new food source. If the bait from the trap is disappearing regularly, set the trap.

Check frequently to remove captured animals, making sure to avoid direct contact.

Breeding seasons should be considered; trapping should be delayed until young are active and able to be trapped.

Note: Relocating wildlife is often prohibited; animals often die and it may result in spreading disease or transferring your problems to someone else. 

Have a plan before you put out a cage trap - New Hampshire

Have a plan before you put out a cage trap

Know what you are going to do with the animal if you catch it

Many homeowners try to resolve wildlife conflicts by using cage traps (such as Havahart® traps) that catch but do not kill the animal. Cage traps can be effective wildlife management tools, but here's the "catch" — before you set that trap, you need to have a PLAN for what you are going to do with the animal and how you are going to do it. It's easy to set a trap, but not so simple to determine how and where to release the animal. Consider these tips BEFORE you set a trap:

  • Call USDA Wildlife Services at (603) 223-6832 for advice on dealing with nuisance animals. Their trained staff will guide you to a workable solution.
  • If Wildlife Services is not able to resolve your problem, they can refer you to a licensed Wildlife Control Operator (WCO) who can resolve the problem for a fee. Some WCOs will pick up trapped animals for a fee. Make arrangements in advance – BEFORE you set a trap.
  • The NH Fish and Game Department does not lend out traps due to the potential for injury from bites, scratches, and disease exposure.
  • NH Fish and Game personnel are not generally available to relocate or remove trapped animals. Responsibility for the transport and release of trapped animals falls to the person who sets the trap. Note that the potential for the inadvertent capture of a skunk is high and that handling skunks requires special skills and an action plan.
  • Individuals handling or transporting wildlife should take precautions to avoid potential disease exposure. For safety reasons and to avoid spreading a disease to a new area, sick animals should not be transported.
  • Do not physically handle a trapped animal or expose yourself to animal bodily fluids, including saliva; this can expose you to wildlife diseases such as rabies.
  • Consider where you place the cage. During summer months, traps should be placed in shaded areas to avoid overheating. During winter months, traps should be protected from wind, snow and excessive low temperatures.
  • Do not leave an animal confined in a cage trap, especially if exposed to heat or cold.
  • Check traps frequently to minimize trauma to captured animals. At a minimum, traps should be checked at dusk and dawn.​

To sum things up, if you are experiencing problems with nuisance wildlife, make sure you have a plan before you employ a cage trap. Know the answer to this question: What am I going to do with this animal if I trap it and how am I going to do it?

Laws and regulations to be aware of

While we attempt to provide guidance about state and federal regulations pertaining to specific species and control techniques, we do not provide information about local jurisdictions (city, town, county, etc.) where regulations may be more restrictive, especially as it applies to discharge of firearms, transport of animals or use of trapping equipment. Contact your local city or county government to inquire further. No guarantee is made that information (or lack of information) associated with a species or control technique is completely accurate or current. You should become familiar with federal, state and local laws before beginning any wildlife control activities.

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