Re: [CH] Need help with chipmunk problem.
Chad A Gard (gard@indy.net)
Mon, 24 Jun 2002 09:12:00 -0500
>I have several types of chiles growing in pots. Unfortunately, we have a
>large chipmunk population that likes to burrow into the soil and naw on the
>roots of plants.
I had a simmilar problem with squirrels (and a 'possum, but the
latter was a more difficult nut to crack...). Unfortunately, I live
in the city, so discharging firearms is both illegal and unwise.
Also, chipmunks (not 'possums that stand on the hood of your car and
hiss at you while bearing their teeth when you come out the front
door in the morning. Again another story...) are kinda cute, so you
might think just removing the annoyance but keeping them alive might
be good. That's what I thought about my squirrel problems.
I employed a "Skyay Racer". This is a toy from the late '80's or
early '90's that has long since been discontinued, but occasionally
you can find them. They're very popular amongst folks who use the
same home automation software as I do, as you can hack them many
different ways.
They essentially are a radio controled motorized "gondola" (that's
about the size of a chipmunk, actually) that suspends from a piece of
large monofilament "track". The remote is simply two switches, one
for forward and one for reverse. The thing makes a remarkable amount
of noise and moves very very quickly.
So, when I had my squirrel problem, I set up a loop track so that it
runs through the area the squirrels were digging up. I also tied an
aluminum pie pan on the bottom for extra measure.
Then, I took apart the remote and soldered leads from an X10
"universal module" to the forward contacts to it. I put a motion
sensor in the infested area. Whenever a squirrel (or anything else
for that matter, but the sensor was pointed so that it would be
unlikely for anything larger than a small dog to trigger it) would
invade, the motion sensor would send a signal to the computer, which
would turn on the universal module, which would make the skyway racer
start racing arround the track, making lots of noise with the motor
and scaring the chipmunks with a UFST (un-identified flying shiny
thing). 30 seconds later the computer would turn off the universal
module, stopping the skyway racer.
The motion sensor sent a signal every 20 seconds while there was
motion, so the skyway racer would continue running until all little
rodents were gone.
Fun, nonviolent, legal, effective - and it didn't smell bad. It was
a pretty good solution.
My grandmother also likes to put dog hair (helps to have a dog that
sheds a lot) in an old pair of panty hose, and wrap that arround the
base of the plants that need protected. I guess it's very effective
against rabbits. However, I don't have a dog, and am a single guy
living alone, and thus don't have old panty hose, either... And the
skyway racer was more fun.
--
Chad Gard, KB9WXQ
INCHASE: http://www.inchase.org Co-founder
SCOA: http://www.stormchasersofamerica.org Member #3
INSWA: http://www.insw.org Unit #21