How to Get Rid of Groundhogs

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When it comes to the yard, garden, and farm pests, the most troublesome type are definitely the burrowers. As far as burrowers are concerned, I am inclined to say that groundhogs are the worst. Also called as woodchuck, land beaver, or whistle pig, these burrowing rodents can really wreak havoc all over your garden or yard.

The Bill Murray film “Groundhog Day” might have endeared you to these burrowers. Murray’s character, Phil, shows contempt for these little creatures, and for good reason! There’s really nothing cute about these animals. This is especially true once they have laid waste to your yard or garden.

For this post, we’ll discuss some tips and tricks on how to get rid of groundhogs. We’ll cover both lethal and non-lethal options.

7 Tips and Tricks on Getting Rid of Groundhogs

1. Eliminate Attractants

Groundhogs come to a yard or garden because they think it’s a good place to find food and it provides a safe haven. If you don’t want groundhogs coming into your space, see to it that you make it less attractive to these burrowing pests.

Here are some of the known groundhog attractants:

• Beans, peas, and melons are some of a groundhog’s favorite food. Therefore, it’s highly recommended that you harvest these crops as soon as possible.
• Groundhogs tend to burrow in places that provide sufficient cover. Remove piles of debris, rocks and/or wood which can be used by groundhogs for shelter.
• Make it a habit to trim back plants that groundhogs may eat or use for cover.
• Tree trunks and other pieces of wood are very attractive to groundhogs since they can gnaw and grind their teeth on them.
• If there are animal burrows in your yard, fill it with gravel.

2. Use Castor Oil Mixture

Over time, many homeowners have found out that using castor oil as a natural repellent have yielded good results.

True enough, even gardeners and some professionals swear by castor oil for getting rid of burrowers such as groundhogs. Even the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources lists castor oil as one of the most effective ways for groundhog control.

To deter groundhogs using castor oil, create a mixture of 1/2 cup castor oil and 2 cups of water. Put the mixture in garden hose sprayer attachment and spray it into areas where you don’t want groundhogs to stay. Apply the spray every two to three weeks and after rain.

If you want an even more potent castor oil recipe, mix 1 cup of castor oil, 2 cups of oil soap and 1 1/4 cups of hot sauce.

3. Drive Them Away with Offensive Scents

There are certain smells that groundhogs just absolutely detest. Having these smells near their burrows and around the space will send these creatures packing.

Some of the well-known offensive scents for groundhogs include:

• Garlic – The pungent smell of garlic is too much for groundhogs. Take a couple of garlic cloves and crush them. Then, spread the paste in areas where you don’t want groundhogs to hang about.
• Lavender – This plant has many different uses but who would have thought that it’s actually a good deterrent for groundhogs? Lavender has a lovely smell for us but groundhogs find it very offensive. Plant lavender plants around your garden to keep them away.
• Cayenne pepper – This pepper is best known for its bite but it’s also an effective groundhog deterrent due to the smell and heat. Simply pour cayenne pepper around the holes and you’re good. It’s also a good idea to spray plants with a mixture of 2 teaspoons cayenne with 1-quart water to deter the animal from nibbling.

Woodchucks or groundhogs can greatly damage a garden.

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Do you have trouble with these burrowing pests? Here are tips for identifying and getting rid of groundhogs in your yard and garden.

What Are Groundhogs?

If every day is Groundhog Day in your garden, you’ll probably agree with those who call that gluttonous rodent their least favorite backyard creature. Even skunks get more respect. Speaking of Groundhog Day, find out the origins of that funny holiday and some folklore surrounding groundhogs and weather.

The problem is that groundhogs—also known as woodchucks or whistle-pigs—are binge eaters who can wipe out your vegetable garden in a matter of minutes. They climb, they burrow, they swim, and they eat—an adult consumes about a pound to a pound-and-a-half of vegetation daily. Between spring and fall, they double their body weight.

Do Groundhogs Hibernate?

Yes, they do! Soon after they emerge from a winter’s hibernation, they mate, giving birth in mid-spring—at a time when the picking are at their slimmest. Neat rows of seedlings must look like manna from heaven to hungry groundhogs, who sometimes perch on garden fence posts as if they are looking over the salad bar.

When hibernating, groundhogs—who are never speedy—really slow down, drawing a breath only about once every five minutes. Hibernation is curious behavior: Barely breathing, these mammals cool off to just a few degrees above the ambient temperature, sometimes as low as 39º to 40ºF. Their metabolic rate drops, and they sleep profoundly in their winter dens, neither eating nor drinking for four-and-a-half to five-and-a-half months, drawing all their nourishment from the body fat they accumulated during the summer. No wonder they eat so much!

Identification

How to Identify Groundhogs

Members of the squirrel family, groundhogs are squarish, stocky animals that typically weigh between 4 and 14 pounds. The have short, strong legs; coarse, grizzled, gray-brown fur; small ears; a short, bushy tail; and curved claws. Groundhogs look a bit like runaway fur coats as they waddle back to their burrows. This critter can grow to be about 3 feet long. They have large, competent, chisel-like teeth that make them efficient, but not quite endearing.

Wondering where groundhogs live? See any deep tunnels in your yard, under your deck, or near your foundation? You may have a groundhog; they dig burrows to live in and the entrances are usually 10 to 12 inches wide with the excavated soil spread around the entrances. There are usually 2 or 3 entrances.

Groundhog Damage

What do groundhogs eat? Everything from flowers to vegetables. Favorite foods include alfalfa, clover, peas, beans, lettuce, broccoli, plantain, and soybeans. Groundhogs will often devour your seedlings before they even have time to grow. Rabbits and deer eat some of the same plants, so make sure to check for burrows before concluding that you have groundhogs. If you don’t have vegetables around, groundhogs will settle for twigs, bark, bugs, and blossoms.

Groundhogs eat mostly during the early morning and afternoon, so try to see when your garden is receiving the most damage. These creatures will also gnaw and claw at fruit trees, so check your trees for any such marks.

Control and Prevention

How to Get Rid of Groundhogs

These critters may have been attracted by your garden full of tasty plants. Encourage them to go elsewhere.

• Sprinkle blood meal, ground black pepper, dried blood, or talcum powder around the perimeter of your garden. You can try using hair clippings as well.
• Puree and strain hot peppers and garlic, mix them with water and enough liquid soap to make it stick, and spray it liberally around the garden.
• Put some harmless but strong-smelling substance just inside the burrow (such as urine-saturated clumps of kitty litter). Loosely seal the entrance, so the smell stays inside the burrow.
• Would you eat lettuce tossed with bobcat urine? Neither would a woodchuck! Fox, coyote, wolf, and bobcat urines are among the forbidding predator scents now sold as groundhog repellents.
• Eliminate woodpiles and other places where groundhogs nest.
• Keep undergrowth and grass cover low to deter groundhogs.
• Groundhogs are always looking for vacant burrows. Close down their tunnel systems. Bury a three-foot-square panel of welded wire, centered over the entrance hole before an abandoned burrow is rediscovered.
• Unfortunately, humane traps and relocation may be the only solution. Place traps in front of burrow entrances or in the garden. Bait them with broccoli, apple slices, fresh lettuce, carrots, or sweet corn, and work the bottom of the trap into the earth. Check the trap often after setting it to minimize stress and injury to trapped creatures. Cover the trap with an old blanket to calm the groundhog.

How to Prevent Groundhogs from Invading Your Garden

The best woodchuck deterrent is a fence. Excluding woodchucks from the garden will also keep out deer, rabbits, raccoons, and stray pets. Since groundhogs climb and also burrow, you’ll need to build a secure enclosure using six-foot-wide woven-wire fencing. Above ground, the fence should be about four feet high, with the top 12 inches unattached to fence posts (i.e., floppy and facing away from the garden, so that when a groundhog tries to go over the top, its weight will flip it back). The two feet of fencing buried underground should form an L-shape, with 12 inches going straight down and the bottom 12 inches bent at a right angle away from the garden.

An apron of weighed-down black plastic around the garden discourages some diggers, as does an electric fence strung four to six inches off the ground about four to six inches outside the woven-wire fence.

Pay special attention to areas facing fields where woodchucks live or places where they have been digging; sometimes extra fortification in just these spots is called for. Be sure the gate is protected, too. Fencing is not inexpensive, but it’s an investment in serious gardening.

Nuisance Groundhog Trapping

Nuisance Groundhog Problems

In Michigan we take care of nuisance groundhogs or woodchucks. You will find groundhogs in open plains or digging holes and living underground. Groundhogs in Michigan are found living under decks, in rock walls, and in hills. Groundhogs have rounded claws used for digging. Groundhogs are vegetarians and eat plants, grass, flowers, and other vegetation.

Groundhogs dig holes on top of hills creating landslides. They also dig holes under sidewalks and rock walls creating the cement and rocks to come tumbling down. Groundhogs live under decks close to homes so they are often found pestering pets.

Groundhog Problem Solvers

Groundhogs are trapped in live traps usually by baiting traps with vegatation like lettuce, carrots, or apples. Once trapped they can be relocated with in the county they are caught. Holes should be filled in, because coyotes and fox will take over the den site causing more nuisance wildlife problems. Deck barriers can be made to keep them out from under your deck.

How to Get Rid of Groundhogs?

Groundhogs like to dig holes in hill banks, rock walls, and under sidewalks. You can identify a groundhog hole by large mounds of dirt. Flowers and other vegetation are also destroyed by groundhogs.

1. Call a wildlife control professional. Although you can go to your local hardware store and buy a trap for groundhogs. Groundhog removal is a professional job. It’s not as easy as setting a live trap near the Hole. You also need a nuisance wildlife control permit to transport any wildlife once they are trapped.
2. An effective way to remove groundhogs is through a live trap. Fresh greens, cantaloupe, or green apples works great for bait. These types of traps are easy to set, but it does take some skill and knowledge to bait this rodents into the trap.
3. Another way to get rid of groundhogs is with a body grip trap. This is usually a last resort trap. If the groundhogs become trap shy, a body grip trap over their tunnels may be the only way to get rid of the groundhogs.
4. Destroying the tunnels: Once the groundhogs are gone, you should always destroy the holes so more groundhogs, skunks, coyotes or fox don’t move in. Back filling or even dumping a mortar mix is a good way to fill in the hole.

How Much Does it Cost to Get Rid of Groundhogs?

Groundhog trapping is the best and really only method to get rid them. Charging for groundhog trapping is much like trapping raccoons, squirrels, or skunks. We charge a flat fee for set up and inspection to come out to your home to survey the property and strategically set traps. Typically for groundhogs we charge a flat rate cost or we may charge a per trip charge. Per animal cost could be anywhere from $60-$100 depending on the placement of the traps and location of your property. Trip charges depend on the location of your property. A flat rate charge is the method we usually use for groundhogs. This cost is usually incorporated with the initial service call. At an added cost once the groundhogs are trapped and removed, we can also screen off decks or fill in holes to keep them from returning. For free detailed quote click on the free price quote button.

We service over 14 counties in Michigan for groundhog removal jobs. See our service area to see if we are in your area. Looking for a professional wildlife control expert specializing in the groundhog removal process, but not sure who to hire? Click here for information on hiring a wildlife control expert.

If you have have a groundhog problem and you live in Michigan we service you. Common areas we serve throughout our service area are: Bay City, Dewitt, Eagle, Elsie, Fowler, Maple Rapids, Ovid, St. Johns, Westphalia,Bellevue, Charlotte, Dimondale, Eaton Rapids, Grand Ledge, Mulliken, Olivet, Potterville, Sunfield, Vermontville, Waverly, Burton, Clio, Davison, Fenton, Flint, Flushing, Goodrich, Grand Blanc, Linden, Montrose, Mount Morris, Otisville, Swartz Creek,Dansville, East Lansing, Lansing, Leslie, Mason, Okemos, Stockbridge, Webberville, Williamston, Jackson, Grass Lake, Almont, Attica, Clifford,Columbiaville, Dryden, Imlay City, Lapeer, Metamora, North Branch, Otter Lake, Argentine, Brighton, Fowlerville, Hartland, Howell, Pinckney, Whitmore Lake, Armada, Center Line, Chesterfield, Clinton, Eastpointe, Memphis, Mount Clemons, New Baltimore, New Haven, Romeo, Saint Claire Shores, Shelby, Sterling Heights, Utica, Warren, Midland, Carleton, Dundee, Estral Beach, Luna Pier, Maybee, Monroe, Petersburg, South Rockwood, Auburn Hills, Berkley, Beverly Hills, Bingham Farms, Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Clarkston, Clawson, Commerce Twp., Farmington, Farmington Hills, Ferndale, Franklin, Holly, Lake Orion, Madison Heights, Milford, Novi, Oak Park, Ortonville, Oxford, Pontiac, Rochester, Rochester Hills, Royal Oak, South Lyon, Southfield, Troy, Walled lake, Wixom, West Bloomfield, Wolverine Lake, Birch Run, Chesaning, Frankenmuth, Merrill, Oakley, Saginaw, St. Charles, Zilwaukee, Bancroft, Byron, Corunna, Durand, Lainsburg, Lennon, Morrice, New Lothrop, Owosso, Perry, Vernon, Akron, Caro, Cass City, Fairgrove, Gagetown, Kingston, Millingston, Reese, Unionville, Vassar, Ann Arbor, Barton Hills, Chelsea, Dexter, Manchester, Milan, Saline, Ypsilanti, Canton, Livonia, Northville, Plymouth, Wayne, Westland. For more areas we service visit our locations page.

For farmers and homeowners, groundhogs can easily become a pest that requires exclusion. Yet despite their craving for plants and crops, these furry visitors do play a role in the ecosystem as both consumers and part of the food chain.

If groundhogs have built homes on your property, it’s best to understand their tendencies so your efforts to control them will be successful.

Physical Characteristics

• Typical adult weight: 5-14 lbs.
• Usually measures 16”-27” from nose to end of tail
• Brownish-gray fur
• Stocky build with short, powerful legs
• Classified a rodent and part of the squirrel family
• Able to climb trees and swim
• Also known as a woodchuck, its interchangeable name
• Sometimes called a whistle-pig for the sound it makes when threatened
• Found from Canada to the southern U.S.

Groundhogs Versus Squirrels

Though they are in the same general family and may be confused for one another, there are plenty of ways to tell the species apart. These differences are helpful for homeowners and farmers to know if their property is being marred:

• Groundhogs are typically larger and heavier than squirrels and may even appear rotund.
• The fur of a groundhog is brownish-gray, while squirrels have reddish-brown or almost completely gray fur.
• Groundhogs are outdoor rodents that build their homes underground. If given an opening or sizable crevice, squirrels will enter a home and live in wall spaces or in the attic.
• Groundhogs do not spread disease. Squirrels may transmit disease by hosting infected ticks, fleas, and mites.
• Groundhogs hibernate each winter. Squirrels do not hibernate and remain active throughout the year.

Life Cycle

What Is the Life Cycle of a Groundhog?

Spring (and even late winter) signals the mating season, when males awaken from hibernation and venture within two to three acres to find and enter the burrows of females. The females later give birth to two to six young after a gestation period of approximately 32 days. The newborn groundhog arrives blind and hairless, yet can mature enough in only three months to leave home in search of a site for its own burrow.

When mating season is over in March or April, groundhogs return to being solitary creatures. In fact, they are never known to travel in groups or as families. They also stay near their established burrows throughout their three- to six-year lifespans.

Because they live by seasonal behaviors, the best time to evict or exclude groundhogs is in mid-to-late summer.

Risks

Can Groundhogs Transmit Diseases to People?

The short answer is no – with a bit of a qualifying statement. Though very uncommon, it’s possible for groundhogs to carry rabies and then bite a human. In that rare case, you should contact your doctor about treating the bite.

Why Are There Groundhogs on My Property?

An adult groundhog is an herbivore with an immense appetite, eating 1-1 ½ pounds of vegetation a day. Favorite foods include the following plants and crops:

• Alfalfa
• Apples
• Berries
• Carrots
• Clover
• Corn
• Dandelions
• Lettuce
• Soybeans

As a groundhog prepares for hibernation by consuming even more food, there may be considerable damage to backyard gardens and farm areas.

Found near food sources, a groundhog burrow is a marvel of animal engineering. These underground homes run two to four feet beneath the surface and range from eight feet to more than 60 feet long, with multiple exits and rooms. A burrow is usually equipped with two or three entrances, each of which is 10”-12” wide and marked by excavated soil. Groundhogs even build separate chambers in their burrows to serve as bathrooms. All of this means that a single burrow may have an extensive footprint.

Groundhogs aerate soil through their burrowing activities, though their homes conceal a different concern for farmers: Tractors can break an axle driving over their underground dwellings.

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Groundhogs, also known as woodchucks, can wreak havoc on a garden by digging burrows and eating plants. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to deter them from destroying your property. If these fail, you can have a professional humanely remove them.

Groundhogs dig burrows 10 to 12 inches wide where they hibernate, mate, and raise their young. They may live in the same burrow all year, or they may dig another burrow where they live in the summer and fall. The burrow used in the winter and spring is generally located in a wooded or brushy area, while the one used in the summer and fall is usually dug in a grassy area.

You can keep groundhogs from entering your garden and eating your plants by sprinkling Epsom salt on your plants. The taste will discourage the groundhogs from eating them. You can also soak rags in ammonia and place them around the outside of your garden. The smell will help to keep groundhogs away.

You can also install a chicken-wire fence around your garden. Make it at least three or four feet high to prevent the groundhogs from climbing over it. To keep them from burrowing under it, bury the fence a foot underground and bend it at a 90-degree angle pointing away from the garden. This will prevent them from burrowing under it if they try to start digging near the edge of the fence.

If these methods prove to be ineffective, a professional can remove the groundhogs from your property. Contact Anderson Wildlife Control to learn about our humane methods of removing troublesome groundhogs

by Farmers’ Almanac Staff | Posted In: Home and Garden

Groundhog Day is here (it’s February 2), and now the question people ask us most is not what the groundhog predicts but “how do I get rid of them from my lawn?”

About Groundhogs

Groundhogs, also known as woodchucks, “whistle pigs,” or marmots, are rodents that can do a lot of damage to your lawns and gardens. Because they are excellent diggers (their dens can be extensive tunnel systems containing chambers, hallways, and multiple exits), they can weaken the soil, resulting in damage to foundations, barns, and farm equipment, as well as cause possible injuries to livestock. And since groundhogs are herbivores, they enjoy making a meal on the plants in your garden, so all that hard work you put into it can be decimated in a single afternoon. They certainly make a nuisance of themselves.

So what can you do? If you don’t own a dog, or you’re not comfortable trapping and releasing* (or don’t have the means to), consult our list of 5 effective, natural remedies to help keep them out, below. These ideas won’t harm the environment, family pets, or the groundhogs themselves.

Two Key Things:

First, it’s important to know that prevention is very important when it comes to any rodent infestations. Try to identify and remove what they’re attracted to in your yard; for example, the fruit from apple trees, compost piles that contain fruit like melons (their favorite!), or woodpiles. Consider a covered compost bin. And try to harvest your garden and pick up any fallen fruit often.

Additionally, knowing the groundhog’s habits is key. The time when they emerge from their post-winter dens will differ depending on where you live (despite what you hear, most groundhogs are hibernating on February 2nd and are not popping up to see their shadows), and they’re active during the day. Spring is when they start mating so they’ll be very active during this time.

5 Natural Ways To Get Rid of Groundhogs

1. Epsom Salts

Epsom salts sprinkled near or around the burrow entrances or exits will keep the groundhog away. If your plants are being eaten, try placing a tin pie plate filled with the salts near the plants. Replace after a rain.

2. Castor Oil

Castor oil poured in and around the burrow holes can be an effective way to discourage them (they hate the smell) but apply only when you know they’re not there, otherwise, they’ll just stay burrowed. You’ll have to keep vigil to see when they head out to find food.

3. Human Hair Clippings

Clippings from your local barber or hairdresser can also work well because they dislike the scent of humans. Sprinkle clippings around areas where the groundhog frequents. Or to avoid it blowing away in the wind, place clippings in a fine mesh bag and secure it to a stake near the groundhog’s dwelling.

4. Soiled Kitty Litter

Kitty litter (used) poured around one of the den holes (but not the other) is also effective as it smells like a predator. Leaving one exit hole scent-free allows them to escape rather than stay burrowed.

5. Offensive Scents

There are certain smells groundhogs absolutely detest. If you can ensure these smells are present near their burrows and around the garden, you may be able to send them packing:

• Cayenne pepper – Our Farmers’ Almanac readers swear by this method: Simply pour cayenne pepper close to the groundhog’s holes. Buy a large container (bulk size) so you can create a small pile. When it rains or is windy, you’ll have to reapply. It’s actually the smell and the heat they don’t like. You can also spray tender plants with a mixture of 2 teaspoons cayenne with one quart of water to deter them from nibbling.
• Garlic – Crush some garlic cloves and spread the paste around areas of the garden you want groundhogs to avoid. Their sensitive noses can’t handle the pungent smell.
• Lavender – Try planting some lavender around the garden. While it smells lovely to us, groundhogs find it offensive and avoid the areas where it is. They also dislike the smell of these herbs: basil, chives, lemon balm, mint, sage, thyme, rosemary, and oregano.

Fun Fact: Groundhogs are the largest member of the squirrel family.

Wonder why groundhogs are known as “whistle pigs”? Listen to the sound they make in this video clip (you may have thought you were hearing a bird!):

*Always check with your state wildlife agency before relocating any animals from your property. There may be laws in your area prohibiting you from doing so. Relocating groundhogs is illegal in some states due, in part, to fears of spreading rabies. You might want to check with them about what a safe distance is, depending on where you live.

Groundhogs, also called woodchucks are cute furry animals who adorably waddle around while destroying your garden and even causing damage to buildings because they burrow underneath them.

“How do you get rid of a groundhog” and “how to get rid of woodchucks using home remedies” are often questions asked desperately by those who find these creatures in their yard.

Before getting trying to get rid of them, there are some signs of groundhogs that you should look out for as other animals eat some of the same things that they do which are mostly vegetables, fruit, and other plants.

Groundhogs also need to gnaw wood or chew on things like tree bark to maintain their teeth so look out for scrapes and gouges in the wood around your property. They dig burrows 2-5 feet deep that can extend horizontally up to 25 feet. Usually, there is a mound of dirt at the entrance.

How to Get Rid of Groundhogs Naturally

The best time to get rid of groundhogs is early spring since they hibernate during winter and you also want to get rid of them before they have babies in the spring.

1. Make Your Garden Less Attractive to Groundhogs

If you want to know how you get rid of a groundhog, you need to understand how they think. They are prey animals, so they like things that hide them from view and there needs to be an abundance of food, which most gardens do have, unfortunately.

Do the following to deter groundhogs:

• Trim all your plants and trees.
• Keep your garden very neat by removing piles of rocks and wood or anything else they might hide under.
• Harvest any fruit or vegetables that you may have grown as early as possible.
• Use chicken wire or a fence to protect your plants and vegetables. The wire has to go at least 2 feet deep, if not a little more, into the ground. Check out point 6.

2. Predators

Dogs and cats will scare off groundhogs because they are naturally inclined to chase things that move and may even attack the groundhogs. The presence of your pet might just be what keeps the groundhogs away.

Tip: You can also strategically place used cat litter in your garden as well as around and even inside their burrows. The smell of predators can sometimes be as powerful as seeing the predator.

3. Pepper

Groundhogs don’t like hot and spicy scents. Sprinkle ground pepper or chili around your plants and their burrows. You can also make your own pepper spray by chopping up about a tablespoon’s worth of hot peppers (or use the dried powder or flakes) and add hot water. Let it cool down and pour it into a spray bottle. You can add a teaspoon of oil or Castile soap as well.

Spray your homemade pepper spray on your plants and vegetables. You will need to reapply it every few days and after every time it rains.

Tip: Groundhogs don’t like the taste of salt. Sprinkle Epsom salt all over vegetables and your other plants. Do this regularly.

4. Garlic

Making a garlic spray the same way you would the pepper spray will also work. You can also sprinkle powdered or crushed garlic around your garden. You can also add a spoon of garlic to your pepper spray.

Reapply the spray or sprinkle the garlic around the garden regularly, especially after rain.

5. Traps

You will need to check the laws regarding trapping, killing, and relocating groundhogs in your state, but the most effective way to get rid of these pesky groundhogs is to use traps. You can use traps that don’t kill them (live traps) but there are traps that can kill them too, those are called body-gripping traps.

You will need to identify where the burrow is, if there is more than one burrow entry/exit, you will need more traps. The best way to do this is to set the trap near the burrows. Setting up a temporary fence or wall using tall planks can guide the groundhog to the traps.

When choosing bait, remember that groundhogs are herbivores. Place corn, broccoli, apples, or one of their favorites, cantaloupe, just outside the trap, and some deep enough inside for them to fully enter the trap.

Tip: Use gloves to set everything up as your scent will make them wary of going into the trap.

Here’s how the live traps work:

​You can then either relocate them yourself, call pest control, or a wildlife protection agency to remove the groundhogs. If you are choosing to relocate your groundhog/s, be aware that when they feel threatened they can become aggressive, so be careful.

6. Fences

Once you have gotten rid of your groundhogs, fencing is one of the best groundhog repellents. Groundhogs can climb, so you will need to do it right. The fence around your yard or vegetable garden will need to go 2 feet deep if not a little deeper and be at least 4 feet high.

The last foot of the trap should not be supported by the stakes. It should be unstable and bent away from your yard or garden. You can even bend the bottom foot or so of the fence away from your garden too though this can be hard to do in the ground.

You may need to place what’s called an exclusion barrier around your shed or porch if you have one. This is simply installing a fence about 2 feet deep in the ground along the wall of the shed or the porch. This is so that they don’t burrow underneath.

Will Mothballs Get Rid of Groundhogs?

Mothballs can sometimes work. Groundhogs don’t like the smell of them. Ammonia is also a common remedy but also doesn’t work every time. Before you spend a lot of money, always read groundhog repellent reviews. The home remedies mentioned are non-toxic and can be cheaper.

Once your groundhogs are gone, fill the empty burrows with gravel. You may also need to call an expert in to check the safety of your home’s foundations if the groundhogs were burrowing underneath it.

If you have any questions about groundhog deterrent home remedies, leave them in the comment section below.

Need groundhog removal in your hometown? We service over 500 USA locations! Click here to hire us in your town and check prices – updated for year 2020.

Groundhogs may find the area under the deck or shed hospitable enough to burrow and make a home. You may resort to using a simple solution to get rid of them, but be warned – this could be short term. Trapping and removing the animal is one of the options that you have, but after this another animal could move in in the future. There are so many kinds of animals that love to live within a burrow and if they find a vacant one under the deck or shed, they will definitely take advantage of it.

What you should do is install a barrier for exclusion. You need a fence made of steel mesh and it needs to go around the perimeter of the deck or the shed. This mesh also has to go around 18 inches beneath the ground and the bottom should curve outward. This is the only way in which you can ensure that groundhogs will not be able to dig beneath it. Installing such a fence in the correct way and immediately removing the animal can be really helpful in making sure no other animals make a home there. You can also set up the fence with the animal still living in the burrow, but install a one way device to make sure that it leaves. This device will allow the animal to leave but it cannot make its way back in.

Even though they seem like cute animals, groundhogs can pose a great problem when living under your deck or shed. The damage can be witnessed all over your property, and it is best if you avoid it all costs. Burrowing under the deck or shed possess a big issue to the entire structure. This is because they will create a very extensive tunnel network underneath and this can cause the structure to give way because of instability.

Don’t damage the burrow by trying to dig into it or even trying to seal the exits, because these options aren’t effective. The animals can also be quite defensive when it comes to the burrows and you may aggravate the animal to the point where it attacks if you try to destroy its home. You could end up with a very nasty bite. Even if you seal the exits, the animal will still dig itself out without any trouble at all.

You need to get the groundhog removed as soon as possible to make sure that the structure of your deck or shed isn’t compromised. Read more about groundhog trapping here.

Will repellents get a groundhog out of the shed or porch? What will?

There are simple solutions when finding ways to get the groundhog out of your shed or porch. But there are also some problems like having them come back in the future. Critters like skunks and groundhogs love your shed or porch. They could stay and inhabit the place as if it is their home.

Will repellents ward them off? Sometimes it is not that easy to get rid of these animals using repellents. The smell of a spray, like a perfume, will wear out and you will be left with nothing but the groundhogs’ continued presence. They like to burrow to create their home, and installing a barrier will be more effective than using a repellent.

You need to build a fence, a physical barrier, rather than just use a repellent you purchase in the store. However, the problem with a fence is that these animals could dig deep. Yes! They could likely enter your yard from the ground below the fence. Thus, you have to make sure that your fence is also deep enough. At least give it a 15 inch depth so that a groundhog will not able to dig through it.

There are also lethal solutions like poisoning the groundhog, but this is highly discouraged because it will cause more harm than not. Try not to infiltrate the burrow in case you detect that these groundhogs live there. Their instinct would be to attack your presence and they could actually bite you with their sharp teeth. Furthermore, groundhogs may also damage your porch, so you really need to be careful when dealing with these animals.

When you use live traps, you need to find a solution that will enable them to stay alive while waiting for their relocation away from your property. Also, when you find it difficult to capture or repel the animals, make sure that you contact an expert that can do the job for you.

It is best to prevent their presence than to have to repair your burrow or porch. Thus, setting traps and building a fence will be a great idea before they actually inhabit your area. Always keep an eye out for groundhogs and make sure you contact a wildlife removal service when you think you are not able to handle it by yourself. Keep in mind that there are many more effective and safe solutions other than using repellents.

Read an article about Why do groundhogs hibernate? or go back to the main how to get rid of groundhogs page.

Groundhogs are often opportunists when it comes to choosing a nesting spot, and while their dens do have an extensive range of tunnels and escape routes, they will often use a cavity that is already present as the base for this den. This is why many such animals cause problems beneath a shed or porch, where a cavity will already have been dug beneath these parts of the domestic property. When it comes to removal of the groundhog, there are several options that you can try to use, with some having greater success than others in solving your groundhog problem.

Live Trapping And Removal Of The Groundhog

Using a cage trap is one of the most common ways of actually catching the groundhog, but it is important to be considerate about the location of the trap, as if you put it directly over the entrance to the tunnel it will often prove ineffective. What you will need to do is to place the trap just a short distance outside the groundhog’s main tunnel entrance, but not so close that it arouses suspicion in the animal. There are many foods that can be used as bait for the trap, and once captured you may be able to relocate the groundhog depending on the local regulations.

Using Lethal Traps To Kill Groundhogs

This option can prove to be an effective one, and in some areas you will find that local government has restrictions about relocation or transport of pest animals, which make lethal traps a more attractive option. These traps can be placed over the entrance of the animal’s tunnel, although it is worth practicing setting the trap before you install it, as this can be difficult to get right.

Can You Use Poison To Get Rid Of Groundhogs?

There are many people whose first instinct when they are dealing with a pest animal is to lay out poison to try and kill the animals that are causing the problem. While common animal poisons will often work in terms of killing the groundhog, using this approach is not only cruel and unnecessary, it is also going to cause more problems. Because the groundhog will have an extensive tunnel system it will be very difficult to locate the carcass, and in many cases the smell of this decaying will attract more pest animals that can cause further problems.

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Commonly found near wooded areas, open fields, and along roadsides, groundhogs are known for their extensive burrowing. These animals, which are also called woodchucks or whistle pigs, may be cute and cuddly looking but when they wander into our gardens, both their burrowing and feeding activity can quickly wreak havoc on plants and crops. It is for this reason that suitable control measures are often necessary. Let’s look at how to how to get rid of groundhogs.

Groundhog Deterrent and Control

Groundhogs are most active during early morning and late afternoon hours. While they feed on a variety of broad-leafed vegetation, in the garden they prefer legumes such as clover, alfalfa, peas, beans, and soybeans. When it comes to deterrents or groundhog repellent, there are none that are specifically known.

However, scarecrows and similar objects can occasionally provide temporary relief. The most effective types of control include the use of fences, traps, and fumigation.

Getting Rid of Groundhogs with Fencing

The use of fencing around gardens and other small areas can sometimes help reduce groundhog damage and act as a groundhog deterrent. However, they are excellent climbers, easily crawling over top of fences with ease. Therefore, any fencing that’s erected should be made from 2 x 4-inch mesh wire and at least 3 to 4 feet high with another foot or so buried in the ground. The underground portion should face away from the garden at a 90 degree angle to help discourage burrowing.

In addition, the fence should be topped with a strand of electric wire to deter climbing. Alternatively, electric fencing may be used entirely if no pets or children frequent the area.

How to Get Rid of Groundhogs by Trapping & Fumigation

Trapping groundhogs is often considered one of the best methods to use when getting rid of groundhogs. Wire mesh traps can be set near the entrance of burrows (within 5 to 10 feet) and baited with anything from apple slices to carrots. They are normally concealed with items such as grass as well.

When trapping groundhogs, check them regularly in the morning and evening hours, and either move the animals elsewhere or dispose of them humanely. The use of poisonous gas (fumigation) is also commonly utilized for groundhog control. Directions for their use are on the label and should be carefully followed. Fumigation is best performed on cool, rainy days.

What are Groundhogs?

Groundhogs are also referred to as woodchucks or whistle pigs. They are a member of the squirrel family. There are six species of woodchucks and marmots that occur in the United States. These animals commonly invade cropland and vegetable gardens, eating or destroying vegetables and landscape plants. Although groundhogs are slow runners, they scurry quickly to their dens when they sense danger. The primary predators of groundhogs are hawks, foxes, coyotes, bobcats, dogs and humans. However, motorized vehicles kill many groundhogs each year. Keep reading for more groundhog/ woodchuck facts , and to learn how to get rid of groundhogs .

Groundhog Identification

Pest Stats

Color

Generally grizzled, brownish gray

Shape

Compact, chunky bodies covered in fur with a short tail; forefeet have long, curved claws for digging burrows

The head and body averages 16” to 20” (40 cm to 51 cm). The tail is usually 4” to 7” (10 cm to 18 cm) long.

Antennae

Region

Northeastern and central United States

What Do Groundhogs Look Like?

Adult groundhogs range anywhere from 16 to 22 inches in length and weigh anywhere between five and 13 pounds. Their bodies are compact and chunky, and covered in brownish gray fur with a short tail. Groundhogs have four legs and t heir front feet also have long, curved claws for digging burrows.

What is the Difference Between a Groundhogs and a Woodchuck?

There is no difference between a groundhog and a woodchuck. In fact , the terms woodchuck and groundhog are interchangeable.

Groundhog Photos

Photo of a groundhog in a residential yard

Groundhog Prevention

How to Get Rid of Groundhogs

Groundhogs sometimes den in crawlspaces, so it is important to inspect the outside of the home for access points, such as broken vent covers or holes in the foundation. Homeowners should seal all cracks and crevices with caulk, repair any loose siding and install a mesh cover over chimneys and other exposed openings. If a n infestation is suspected, contact a lic ensed pest control professional to recommend the best method to get rid of a groundhog .

Wild animals pose serious health risks like physical attacks that cause bodily harm and the transmission of rabies. For more information on nuisance wildlife, check out the wildlife pest guides.

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Groundhogs sometimes den in crawlspaces, so it is important to inspect the outside of your home for access points, such as broken vent covers or holes in the foundation. Homeowners should seal all cracks and crevices with caulk, repair any loose siding and install a mesh cover over chimneys and other exposed openings.

Groundhog Education

Habits

Groundhogs are known to burrow in fields and pastures, along fences and roadsides, and near building foundations or the bases of trees, leaving mounds of soil at the dig site. Groundhogs are primarily active during daylight hours, usually feeding in the early morning. They are strict herbivores and eat a variety of vegetables including soybeans, beans, peas, carrot tops, alfalfa and grasses. When not feeding, they are known to sunbathe during the warmest periods of the day.

Groundhogs are among the few mammals that enter into true hibernation, which generally starts in late fall near the end of October and continues until late February. Every year on February 2, people around the country celebrate Groundhog Day, a tradition that centers arou n d the idea of a groundhog emerging from its hibernation to “predict” the weather. If the groundhog sees its shadow and returns to its burrow, there will be six more weeks of winter. But, if the animal does not see its shadow, then spring is right around the corner. The Groundhog Day ceremony featuring Punxsutawney Phil in Pennsylvania is the most popular.

Habitat

The most commonly-known woodchuck species, the Marmota monax or groundhog, mainly lives in th e eastern part of North America but also extends into the Northwest. The other five species, however, are all located in the West, and have the common name “marmot.” Groundhogs are generally found in open and closed forests and bushy areas. In agricultural areas, th ey live along creeks, pastures and wooded areas where they can create extensive burrow systems.

Threats

Groundhogs are considered a nuisance pest because they can cause extensive damage to home gardens, farms, orchards and field crops as a result of their feeding and burrowing habits. When burrowing, they have been known to destroy building foundations, create unwanted holes on lawns and cause electrical outages from gnawing on underground wires.

Groundhogs rarely come in contact with humans and therefore pose no major public health hazards. H owever, they are capable of carrying fleas, ticks and rabies.

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Groundhogs, also known as land beavers, woodchucks, or whistlepigs, are large rodents, of the marmot group. Because they burrow extensively, and because they subsist primarily on vegetation, they are considered a major garden pest. A family of groundhogs can easily destroy a food crop if left alone, so it is important to get rid of groundhogs as soon as it becomes apparent there is an infestation.

Groundhogs are considered to be major garden pests.

There are a handful of different ways to get rid of groundhogs, and nearly every gardener has their preferred method or collection of legends about how best to deal with the creatures. Some people wish to get rid of groundhogs in the most humane way possible, without killing them, while others just want to get rid of them quickly and efficiently. Some ways are more effective than others, as well, and it is important to keep a lookout for a resurgence of the groundhog population after you deal with it the first time.

If you’re not too concerned about using chemicals in your quest to get rid of groundhogs in your garden, using ammonia is a fast-acting, relatively humane way to go about moving the creatures. Although it sounds fairly brutal, if handled correctly it will eliminate the groundhog population without killing them at all. It works simply by making their burrows distasteful to them, so that they migrate on their own to a new patch of land, far from your garden.

To do it, you’ll want to wait until spring or summer, when the days are sunny and temperate, otherwise no matter how bad it gets the animals won’t want to leave their burrows. Then, buy some sudsy or cloudy ammonia from a store, and pour a great deal of it into a burrow. If you can’t find sudsy ammonia, you can make your own by adding eight parts ammonia to one part water to two spoonfuls of detergent and mixing it. Once the ammonia permeates the burrow the groundhogs will leave within a day or so, providing they have no young. If they do have children, they will first find a replacement burrow, then come back for the young, and then leave, which can take a few days.

Using a safe trap of some sort is another humane, less toxic, way to get rid of groundhogs. They are fairly smart animals, so you’ll have to be patient, but within a few days you should begin catching groundhogs, and within a week or so you can relocate an entire population. To begin with, you’ll want to leave the trap open and unset, with small amounts of food in it. This lets the groundhogs get used to the idea of a safe meal, and since the traps can sometimes take a while to be triggered, it means they’ll spend plenty of time in it. After a few days of this, set the trap, and you should catch your groundhog. Cover the cage with a blanket, and relocate the animal far away, just leaving the cage open for it to wander out of. Repeat this tactic until all of the groundhogs are gone.

You can also use fumigation canisters, or use lethal traps or a gun to eliminate a groundhog population. All three of these methods may be illegal in some areas, so it’s important to check with a local conservation association or fish and game office, to make sure you aren’t breaking any laws. Of these, shooting the animals is the preferred method of control, but care must be taken that local hunting laws aren’t being broken.

Cages may be used to trap and relocate groundhogs.