Yes, chipmunks will eat tomato plants, but they cause less damage than other garden pests

Chipmunks do eat tomato plants, though they are not the most destructive pest you will face. They nibble on ripe and ripening tomatoes, and they will also eat seedlings and young leaves. The damage is usually light — a few bite marks on fruit, some stripped leaves — rather than the total plant loss you might see from deer or rabbits. A single chipmunk in your garden will not destroy your harvest, but a population of several can add up to noticeable losses, especially if you grow cherry or grape tomatoes, which are smaller and easier for them to damage.

Chipmunks are attracted to tomato plants for the same reason you are: the fruit is nutritious and sweet. They also eat the leaves and stems, particularly when other food sources are scarce in spring and early summer. Unlike some pests, chipmunks do not tunnel under plants or girdle stems at ground level, so your plants will survive even if chipmunks are feeding on them regularly.

Key Takeaways

  • Chipmunks eat ripe tomatoes and young leaves, but damage is usually light unless you have a large population.
  • They are most active in spring and early summer when natural food is limited, and again in late summer as they prepare for winter.
  • Fencing, netting, and live traps are the most practical ways to protect tomato plants without harming chipmunks.
  • Removing brush piles, wood stacks, and dense ground cover near your garden reduces the shelter chipmunks need to stay in the area.

When chipmunks cause the most damage to tomatoes

Chipmunk damage peaks in two seasons. The first is late spring and early summer, when chipmunks emerge from winter and food is scarce. At this point they will eat seedlings, young leaves, and any fruit that has started to ripen. The second peak is late summer and early fall, when chipmunks are eating heavily to build fat reserves for winter. During this period, ripe tomatoes are a major food source, and you may notice several fruits with bite marks or partially eaten sections.

The damage pattern is distinctive: you will see small bite marks or chunks missing from the fruit, usually on the side facing the ground or closest to shelter. Chipmunks do not cut fruit cleanly the way some pests do — they gnaw and leave ragged edges. If you find a tomato with a single small hole and no other damage, it is more likely a hornworm or beetle larva than a chipmunk.

Physical barriers that actually work

Fencing is the most reliable defense. A fence at least 3 feet tall, buried 6 to 12 inches underground, will keep chipmunks out of a tomato bed. The underground portion is critical because chipmunks are diggers and will tunnel under a fence that sits on the surface. Use hardware cloth or chicken wire rather than wood or vinyl, since chipmunks can gnaw through softer materials. Check the fence regularly for gaps or damage, especially after heavy rain or frost heave.

Netting works for individual plants or small beds. Drape bird netting or row cover over tomato cages or stakes, securing it to the ground with soil, rocks, or landscape pins. Make sure the netting does not touch the fruit — chipmunks can bite through it if it is in contact with what they want to eat. Remove netting during flowering so pollinators can reach the blooms, then replace it once fruit sets.

For potted tomatoes, move containers onto a deck, patio, or raised platform at least 2 feet off the ground. Chipmunks can climb, but they prefer to stay near ground level where they can retreat to their burrows quickly. Pots on a deck or table are usually safe.

Removing shelter and food sources nearby

Chipmunks need cover to feel safe. They burrow under brush piles, wood stacks, dense mulch, and overgrown ground cover. If you remove these features near your tomato garden, chipmunks are less likely to settle in the area. Clear away dead branches, stack firewood at least 20 feet from the garden, and thin out dense plantings of groundcover or ornamental grasses.

Chipmunks also eat seeds, nuts, and berries. If you have bird feeders, fallen fruit from trees, or seed-bearing plants near the garden, you are feeding the chipmunk population. Move bird feeders away from tomato beds, rake up fallen fruit and nuts, and consider removing or relocating plants that produce seeds chipmunks like — such as sunflowers or coneflowers — if they are close to where you grow tomatoes.

Live trapping and relocation

Live traps are an option if the chipmunk population is large or damage is severe. Use a small box trap (6 by 6 by 16 inches) baited with peanut butter, sunflower seeds, or dried fruit. Place traps along the edges of beds or near burrow entrances. Check traps daily, and relocate captured chipmunks at least 5 miles away in a wooded area with water and shelter. Before you trap, check your local regulations — some areas require a permit or prohibit relocation.

Trapping is labor-intensive and works only if you remove most of the population. A few chipmunks will move in to fill the space left behind, so trapping is most effective as part of a larger strategy that includes removing shelter and using barriers.

Why poison and repellents usually fail

Poison baits and granules are not practical for tomato gardens because they kill indiscriminately and can harm pets, children, and non-target wildlife. Repellent sprays — capsaicin, predator urine, ammonia — have mixed results. Chipmunks may avoid them for a few days, but they often return once the smell fades or they realize there is no real threat. If you do use a repellent, reapply it after rain and rotate between products so chipmunks do not become accustomed to one scent.

Ultrasonic devices are marketed as chipmunk deterrents but have no scientific support. Save your money and focus on barriers and habitat modification instead.

Protecting seedlings and transplants

Young tomato plants are vulnerable to chipmunk damage in spring. If you start seedlings indoors and transplant them outside, protect them for the first few weeks with individual cloches, row covers, or small cages. Once plants are 12 inches tall and have woody stems, chipmunks cause less damage because the plants are harder to kill and the leaves are tougher to eat.

If you direct-seed tomatoes outdoors, cover the bed with netting or row cover until seedlings emerge and are established. Remove the cover once plants are growing vigorously.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will chipmunks kill my tomato plants?

No. Chipmunks eat the fruit and leaves but do not kill the plant itself. Even with heavy feeding, the plant will survive and continue to produce. You may lose some fruit, but the plant will recover.

Do chipmunks eat green tomatoes or only ripe ones?

Chipmunks prefer ripe or ripening tomatoes because they are sweeter, but they will eat green fruit if food is scarce. Early and late in the season, when natural food is limited, you may see damage to unripe fruit.

Can I use mothballs or ammonia-soaked rags to keep chipmunks away?

These methods have limited effectiveness. Chipmunks may avoid the smell for a short time, but they return once the odor fades or they realize there is no danger. Physical barriers like fencing and netting are more reliable.

Are there tomato varieties chipmunks avoid?

Chipmunks eat most tomato varieties, but they prefer smaller fruits like cherry and grape tomatoes because they are easier to bite and carry. Large slicing tomatoes are less attractive, though chipmunks will still feed on them if given the chance.

How do I know if a chipmunk or another animal damaged my tomatoes?

Chipmunk damage shows small, ragged bite marks or chunks missing from the fruit. Deer leave larger bite marks and often strip entire branches. Rabbits clip stems cleanly at ground level. Insects like hornworms leave holes or large sections eaten away. The location of damage also helps — chipmunks feed near ground level and shelter, while deer damage is higher up on the plant.