Or more fittingly: “Of Chipmunks and Amy.” My best-laid plans went surprisingly astray.
I have battled chipmunks for two years, and as you’ve seen from the mounting toll of the Chipmunk Scorecard (look to the right of this post), I was successful this year.
The chipmunks had an easy good winter it seems, and my garden, hillside, and rock walls were overrun with the little darlings. I was in despair. Last year, the chipmunks wiped out my entire crop of peas and beans, eating the seedlings to the ground, and even climbing the plastic trellis netting and biting through that, to get at the ripening pods that had survived the first onslaught.
And so this year I set two small hav-a-hart traps, and baited them with birdseed, which proved irresistible. I relocated them to a wooded area 1.7 miles from my home. My car was a disaster area of scattered birdseed, caused by panicked chipmunks dashing about in the trap as I drove them to their new home.
Here is a photo of the last chipmunk trapped this year:
However, it was clear that my efforts to remove the chipmunks was ineffective. The population did not diminish. So I contacted a local nature center and asked: What am I doing wrong? Why am I not making a dent in their numbers?
The response was quick, thorough, and devastating. I learned that as rodents are territorial, the chipmunks I released most likely died quickly, due to the irritation of the established chipmunks at the interlopers, the lack of burrows for them to use while they adjusted to their new home, the stress of the move, and the likelihood that predators would take advantage of their confusion to prey upon them.
Good intentions are not a substitute for knowledge.
The nature center, and various websites that I consulted all seem to agree: The best defense against chipmunks is harassment. This can take the form of wire cages over emerging seedlings, or as I chose, to protect the seedlings with milk-jug cloches. I did take a small measure of comfort from the nature-center lady who commented in her email: “I just checked out your website and saw your milkjug photos – clever. You are on the right track.”
I hope so. And to the 35 chipmunks that I trapped and moved: deepest apologies. I hope you found a warm burrow, and ample food. It was my intention all along.
WORDS FROM OTHERS
“L’enfer est plein de bonnes volontes et desirs.” (Hell is full of good wishes and desires.)
— Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, 1090-1153, French Abbot
These words are believed to be the source of the aphorism: “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.”
Amy in the Garden 
I was losing serious battles with squirrels and chipmunks. I finally gave them their own section of my yard; opposite of the garden is a bird/chipmunk/squirrel/rabbit paradise. Multiple feeders, water sources, shelters, etc.
While I still minimal damage in my garden, it has decreased dramatically. As long as they have a food source, they seem to stay away from mine.
Good luck! I know how frustrating it can be.
I’m having similar success with the “distraction” technique! I keep my bird feeder (on the opposite side of the yard, half-filled. It’s enough for the birds, and plenty for the chipmunks, who benefit from all of the scattered seed. I’m almost afraid to state that my beans are now 5″ tall — I hope they get a chance to race up that trellis and set pods!
I love that you set up water and shelters, too. I will consider adding that!