Chipmunks ---Legal to shoot in Ontario?

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fivehundredlimited

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Muskoka, Ontario
I do cottage maintenance and one customer has an infiltration of chipmunks in his cottage. They even chewed right through his steel screen on his window to get in.

My understanding is that since they are damaging his property he has the right to shoot them if they are in close proximity to his cottage. ie . On his lawn. I also heard somewhere that since he doesn't own a firearm that he could ask me to shoot some for him. Is this correct?

Also curious would it be legal to start a business that offered to shoot animals that are damaging someone's property? This is in a rural area so there are no firearm discharge bylaws to worry about.
Fivehundred
 
Here in NL the pest control guys take care of rats with pellet guns on occasion. Check with local pest control.
 
Chipmunks are a "specially protected mammals" under the Ontario hunting regulations (page 87 of the printed regs, page 99 on the digital). So they can not be "hunted" with a small game licence, or "hunted" under any circumstance in Ontario.

Now there is an allowance for "protection of property". So if you "reasonably believe" that a chipmunk is "damaging or about to damage your property" you can pop them provided that it's on property you actually own or possess - you can't shoot them on someone else's property, crown land etc.

As far as popping them as an "agent" of the actual home/property owner, you would have be "designated" by the MNRF (probably have some license scheme or would have to have a pest control licence number etc - call the MNRF and ask)
 
Growing up in Muskoka, we were constantly overrun with chipmunks. They'd crap in all the firewood and lived in the walls of the woods hop and all the out buildings. We even had one make it into the house one time. Had a hell of a time getting him back out. All I know is that the population seemed to take a slight downturn after a trip me and my father made to Canadian Tire. Also when the Black squirrels started moving back in, the chipmunks became alot scarcer. Now the squirrels and chipmunks have kind of equalized. I will say a .22 air rifle is significantly better at dispatching squirrels and similarly sized critters than a .177.
 
A coyote/fox leg hold trap with a piece of strawberry licorice suspended 8-10" above it is very effective in dealing with marauding chipmunks. Results below.

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fivehundredlimited said:
I do cottage maintenance and one customer has an infiltration of chipmunks in his cottage. They even chewed right through his steel screen on his window to get in.

My understanding is that since they are damaging his property he has the right to shoot them if they are in close proximity to his cottage. ie . On his lawn. I also heard somewhere that since he doesn't own a firearm that he could ask me to shoot some for him. Is this correct?

Also curious would it be legal to start a business that offered to shoot animals that are damaging someone's property? This is in a rural area so there are no firearm discharge bylaws to worry about.
Fivehundred
Click to expand...

In Ontario an animal that is causing property damage can be destroyed to protect the owners property.
 
5 gallon plastic pail with a bid of water. A juice can ontop with string/wire through middle of can that has lots of peanut butter on can and two boards so they can run up to top. Works 24/7 even when you are on holidays.
 
I have had good results with Victor's wooden rat traps. A little peanut butter on the pan and problem solved. Taken 7 out of my garage this year already. They get into my wall tent and other hunting gear.
Darryl
 
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