Q: Chipmunks are destroying my vegetable garden. Can I use mothballs to get rid of them?

— Marion from Austintown

A: Marion, no that’s not a good idea. Using mothballs in a vegetable garden might seem like a quick fix for a chipmunk problem, but they’re not. Mothballs used in a vegetable garden can pose risks to your plants and your health. There are several reasons why mothballs should not be used in vegetable gardens.

Mothballs contain chemicals such as naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene, which are highly toxic. These chemicals are designed to repel moths and other pests by releasing toxic fumes. When used in vegetable gardens, these chemicals can be absorbed by the soil and plants. The plants you intend to eat.

The chemicals in mothballs can harm the environment. When placed on the soil the mothball chemicals can leach into the groundwater, affecting the quality of water sources.

The chemicals can alter the pH levels of the soil, making the garden less hospitable for plant growth. Mothballs are harmful to the beneficial insects in our gardens that help control insect pests in vegetables.

Pets, especially dogs and cats, particularly are vulnerable to mothball poisoning if they ingest or contact them. And mothballs are not effective for controlling chipmunks.

Penn State University says there are no fumigants registered for controlling chipmunks.

Mothballs are a pesticide. The use of mothballs is regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

They are intended for use in enclosed spaces to control fabric pests, not for outdoor use. Using mothballs inappropriately can result in fines and other legal consequences.

As with any pesticide, it is important to read and follow the directions on the label as well as follow any local regulations and guidelines before using them.

Instead of mothballs, there are other ways to control chipmunks in the vegetable garden.

One way is to exclude them using hardware cloth or chicken wire. Or a large snap trap (rat trap) can be used to control them.

If using snap traps, make sure to place them in locations where children and pets won’t encounter them. Also, professional trappers can be contacted to control them.

For more information on mothballs, visit https://go.osu.edu/mothballs.

For more information on chipmunks visit https://go.osu.edu/chipmunks.

David Sprague is an OSU Extension Master Gardener volunteer in Mahoning County. The plant and pest clinic is open Mondays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to noon at the OSU Extension Office in Canfield.