Do Chipmunks Eat Strawberries? (and 11 Ways To PROTECT Them)

Being passionate about chipmunks, I know that they have a sweet tooth. But, do chipmunks eat strawberries? Chipmunks absolutely love strawberries! When given the opportunity, they will gladly feast on these sweet, juicy fruits. However, too many strawberries can be unhealthy for chipmunks, so it’s best to limit their intake if you are feeding them. Finally, if you are a gardener, in this blog post I will also give you 11 effective methods to protect your strawberry plants!

Why Do Chipmunks Eat Strawberries?

There are several reasons why chipmunks are so attracted to strawberries:

• Sweet taste – The natural sugars in ripe strawberries appeal to chipmunks’ tastebuds.
• Juicy texture – Chipmunks enjoy the juicy flesh and seeds inside strawberries.
• Bright color – The red color of ripe strawberries stands out and attracts chipmunks.
• Nutritious – Strawberries provide vital nutrients like vitamin C and manganese that chipmunks need.
• Water content – The high water content in strawberries helps satisfy chipmunks’ thirst.
• Easy to eat – Strawberries are small, soft fruits that are easy for chipmunks to harvest and carry.

What Parts of Strawberry Plants Do Chipmunks Eat?

When chipmunks find a strawberry plant, they will eat every part they can, including:

• Leaves – They will nibble on strawberry leaves, especially new growth.
• Stems – Strawberry stems and runners are fair game for chipmunks.
• Roots – They will sometimes dig up and eat strawberry roots.
• Flowers – Chipmunks may eat the flowers off strawberry plants.
• Fruit – The ripe strawberry fruits are their absolute favorite part!

Do Chipmunks Eat Strawberry Tops and Leaves?

Yes, chipmunks will nibble on the green tops and leaves of strawberry plants in addition to the red fruit. While not as tasty as the berries, the tops provide chipmunks with fiber and small amounts of nutrition.

Eating the strawberry tops may also provide chipmunks with extra hydration from the plant’s fluids. So if a chipmunk is thirsty, it may eat the tops and leaves to get more water if berries aren’t readily available.

Signs Chipmunks Have Been Eating Your Strawberries

Here are some telltale signs that chipmunks may be feasting on strawberries in your garden:

• Bite marks on half-eaten strawberries left behind.
• Holes chewed into sides of strawberries.
• Entire strawberries ripped off plants and missing.
• Chewed-up leaves, stems, and debris on the ground.
• Small burrows near strawberry plants.
• Shallow digging near the base of plants as they look for berries fallen on the ground.
• Scattered small black and white chipmunk droppings around plants.
• Fruits disappearing from a bowl left outside.

Why Do Chipmunks Bite Into Strawberries And Leave Them?

It may seem odd when chipmunks take just a few bites out of a strawberry and then abandon it uneaten. There are a couple of reasons they might do this:

• Sampling – Chipmunks nibble test bites to make sure berries are ripe and delicious before carrying them to their burrows.
• Interrupted – A chipmunk may get startled while eating and temporarily leave the berry before coming back for it later.
• Caching food – Chipmunks hide excess food like strawberries to eat later. After biting it, a chipmunk may opt to cache that berry while searching for more to collect.

Can Too Many Strawberries Make Chipmunks Sick?

While strawberries themselves are not toxic or poisonous to chipmunks, eating too many strawberries can definitely make chipmunks unwell for several reasons:

• Weight gain – Too much of the natural fructose sugar in strawberries can lead to obesity in chipmunks.
• Nutritional imbalance – Chipmunks need a varied diet. Too many strawberries can create vitamin deficiencies over time.
• Intestinal issues – Excess strawberry consumption may give chipmunks diarrhea or constipation from digestive upset.
• Pesticide poisoning – Store-bought non-organic strawberries may contain traces of toxic pesticides.
• Dehydration – As diuretics, strawberries can cause fluid loss and dehydration in chipmunks if they eat too many.

11 Smart Ways to Protect Strawberries from Chipmunks

If chipmunks are giving your strawberry patch a hard time, here are some clever tricks to keep them away from your berries:

1. Use Bird Netting

Bird netting works great for protecting berries from birds, but also keeps chipmunks away too. Just drape the netting over your strawberry bed and secure the edges with stakes or stones. Look for netting with 1/4 inch holes or less that chipmunks can’t squeeze through.

2. Build Protective Fencing

An open wire fence around your strawberry plants allows you access but blocks chipmunks. Use 1/4 inch wire mesh or hardware cloth so chipmunks can’t get in. Bury the bottom edge at least 6 inches underground so they can’t tunnel underneath.

3. Make a Strawberry Cage

A simple wood, wire mesh or plastic cage over your strawberry plants will form a protective barrier to keep chipmunks away from your ripe, red berries. Just be sure to leave the cage sides open enough for you to reach in for harvesting.

4. Try Motion-Activated Sprinklers

When chipmunks scurry into the danger zone, these clever devices blast them with water to send the little rodents running. They work great as a harmless deterrent.

5. Use Natural Repellents

Douse your strawberries with natural scent repellents that chipmunks hate, like hot pepper spray, mint oil, vinegar or garlic. Reapply after rain to keep chipmunks away.

6. Interplant with Marigolds

The strong scent of marigolds puts chipmunks off from digging around in your strawberry patch. Interplant them liberally to camouflage your berries.

7. Apply Milorganite Fertilizer

The smell of this organic fertilizer really turns chipmunks off. Sprinkle it generously around your strawberry plants to help deter them.

8. Adopt a Dog or Cat

What chipmunk would dare sneak into a yard with a vigilant pet on patrol? Dogs and cats help scare timid chipmunks away from your garden.

9. Use Predator Urine

The smell of coyote, fox or bobcat urine tricks rodents into thinking predators are nearby. Apply these smelly deterrents cautiously around garden perimeters.

10. Install Lights and Noisemakers

Chipmunks get spooked by sudden lights and sounds (especially ultrasounds). Place these devices near your strawberries and set them to trigger automatically when chipmunks are most active.

11. Clean Up Debris

Trim landscaping and remove woodpiles or debris near your garden that chipmunks could use as homes. Keep the area tidy to discourage them from moving in.

12. Use Humane Live Traps

As a last resort, capture problem chipmunks in humane live traps baited with peanut butter. Then release them at least 5 miles away in appropriate habitats.

13. Apply Hot Pepper Spray

Mix hot sauce or ground cayenne with water and spray it on your strawberry plants. The strong odor and spicy taste will irritate chipmunks and send them looking elsewhere for food.

14. Make Homemade Repellents

Whip up your own natural repellent spray by mixing foul-smelling ingredients like garlic, onion, vinegar, pepper, chili powder or peppermint oil with water. Apply it generously on strawberry plants.

15. Use Scooping Covers

Protect individual strawberry plants with small plastic berry baskets or scoops that let you harvest easily but create a physical barrier for chipmunks.

16. Elevate Your Strawberry Containers

Put your strawberries in a raised bed or place the pots up on an elevated surface so chipmunks have a harder time reaching the ripe berries.

17. Add Gravel or Rock Barriers

Surround strawberry beds with a gravel perimeter or piles of smooth rocks that chipmunks must cross to get in. The gravel makes it hard for them to walk easily which deters them.

FAQ

Do Chipmunks Prefer Ripe or Unripe Strawberries?

Chipmunks overwhelmingly prefer ripe, red strawberries over unripe ones. The unripe strawberries are tart and bitter, while ripe strawberries are sweet and juicy. If given a choice, chipmunks will always go for the ripe, red strawberries first.

In fact, chipmunks use the bright red color of ripe strawberries to easily identify them among green unripe berries or leaves. Their excellent vision helps them spot the ripe ones to target.

At What Times Do Chipmunks Eat Strawberries?

Chipmunks are diurnal animals most active during the daytime. They especially forage for food in the early morning and evening hours.

So you’ll typically see them eating strawberries during the day. They don’t usually come out to eat strawberries at night since they avoid being active when their vision is limited.

Do Wild Chipmunks Raid Strawberry Patches?

Absolutely! In the wild, chipmunks will seek out and feast on any strawberry patches they find. Their excellent sense of smell allows them to sniff out ripening strawberries from far away.

Chipmunks are very attracted to suburban gardens and farms where strawberries are cultivated. They will raid strawberry patches and can destroy the entire crop in a single day if given the chance.

Do Baby Chipmunks Eat Strawberries?

Baby chipmunks or kits cannot eat solid foods like strawberries at first. For the first couple weeks, they survive only on their mother’s milk.

Once the kits are about 3-4 weeks old, they start sampling solid foods like seeds and nuts. At this stage, they may try small pieces of mashed strawberries without the seeds, skins or leaves.

By 6-8 weeks old, the young chipmunks are ready for more complex foods including whole ripe strawberries. So from 2 months of age onwards, baby chipmunks definitely enjoy eating strawberries!

Should You Feed Strawberries to Pet Chipmunks?

It’s fine to give your pet chipmunk some strawberries as an occasional treat. But strawberries should not become a staple food item due to their high sugar content.

For pet chipmunks, variety is key – swap out treats like strawberries for other fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds regularly. This will prevent your chipmunk from developing health issues due to a restricted diet.

Never give your pet unwashed store-bought strawberries as they may contain pesticides. Always wash the strawberries thoroughly first. Then remove any leaves, stems or debris before feeding your chipmunk.

How Often Can Pet Chipmunks Have Strawberries?

Experts recommend limiting even healthy treats like strawberries to no more than 10% of your pet chipmunk’s total daily food intake.

For an adult chipmunk, 1-2 average-sized strawberries twice per week is sufficient. Any more may lead to digestive issues or weight gain in your pet from the excess sugar.

For younger chipmunks, cut back to just a few small slices of strawberry once or twice a week at most.

Do Chipmunks Eat Strawberries at Night?

No, chipmunks strictly stick to eating strawberries during their active daylight hours. They never come out to forage for strawberries at night.

Chipmunks are diurnal and cannot see well in darkness. At night, they remain safely tucked away in their underground burrows avoiding nocturnal predators.

Are Strawberries Safe For Chipmunks to Eat?

Yes, strawberries are completely edible and safe for chipmunks. In fact, strawberries can be a very healthy part of a chipmunk’s balanced diet in the wild.

Strawberries contain essential vitamins (C and B6), minerals (manganese and potassium) and antioxidants that are beneficial for a chipmunk’s immune system, energy levels, heart health and more.

The main caution with feeding strawberries is to limit the quantity given to chipmunks. Too many can cause digestive upset and unhealthy weight gain in these small animals.

How Much is Too Much Strawberry for a Chipmunk?

There aren’t any definitive studies establishing exactly how many strawberries are too much for a chipmunk. As a general rule of thumb, if strawberries exceed 10% of a chipmunk’s total food intake, it’s best to cut back.

For a wild chipmunk, more than a few small strawberries in one day could be too much. For pet chipmunks, limit it to 1-2 average-sized strawberries twice per week at most.

Also, avoid suddenly introducing large amounts of strawberries into a chipmunk’s diet. Increase portion sizes gradually while monitoring for any adverse effects.

Conclusion

Do chipmunks eat strawberries? Chipmunks find strawberries irresistible! Given the opportunity, they will gladly nibble away at ripe, red berries in your garden.

While strawberries make a healthy occasional treat, limit quantities for pet or wild chipmunks to prevent stomach upsets. Implement deterrents to safeguard your yummy strawberries!

With some smart precautions, you can comfortably share your strawberry bounty and enjoy watching these cute creatures interact with nature in your backyard.

You may also be interested in reading:

• Do Squirrels Eat Meat? (WHY and WHAT?)
• Do Chipmunks Eat Plants? (and 7 Ways to PROTECT Your Garden)
• Do Chipmunks Eat Peanuts? (Are There Any RISKS?)