Tips on Groundhog Control

Groundhogs are also known as woodchucks, these large rodents are known for burrowing into the soil and their destructive behavior. Because of their huge appetites, they will destroy gardens including crops but what makes their presence even more serious is they can cause severe structural damage when burrowing because their tunneling will break building foundations apart. Groundhogs will go as far as chewing through irrigation systems and electrical wires that are in their path.

In the wild, these rodents can be commonly found in open fields, along forest edges, streams, pastures, farmlands, meadows, plains, dense forests, woodlands, and even along the roadside. Groundhogs are excellent climbers of tall trees and shrubs and are good swimmers.

Signs that You have a Groundhog

Signs that you have a groundhog issue are clawing and scent marking, piles of dirt, burrow holes, ornamental plants and crops destroyed, and tunneling openings scattered throughout the yard. Bite marks in your vegetables and fruits, and tops of flowers missing because of feeding and sinking foundations. Deep burrow holes may also be seen in your lawn. Groundhogs come out during the early morning and early evening hours.

How do Groundhogs Look

The fur of a Groundhog is reddish-brown mixed with gray guard hairs with a yellow tip. They have a tail, legs, feet, and a darker face. These rodents often grow up to 20 inches in length, with a tail that measures roughly six inches long, and generally weigh 6–12 pounds.

8 Ways to Get Rid of Groundhogs

Ensure that Your Garden is Neat- Groundhogs are known to look for or locate covers to hide the entrance of their tunnels, so make sure and weed beneath shrubs, and trim back lower limbs on shrubs so they have no place to hide. Tirm around your compost pile and wood, remove brush piles, keep your shrubs always trimmed back, and ensure that your foundation plants are well maintained.

Harvest Your Crop Regularly- As soon as your garden produce is ripe harvest them immediately, Over-rip vegetables and fruits should not be allowed to remain on the ground but rather gathered up and properly disposed of because the odors from these produce will attract rodents.

Dogs & Cats- Letting your dogs and cats run freely in your garden or yard will have groundhogs on the run. Dog and cat urine along with their hair will spread the scent that groundhogs hate which will help to keep groundhogs away.

Use Groundhog Repellents- The ingredients that are found in groundhog repellents will irritate their eyes and nose, and the odor of these repellents will deter groundhogs. Some of these repellents are made from blended herbs, red pepper, or castor oil.

Purchase Predator Urine- The predators of groundhogs are foxes and coyotes, purchase predator urine and apply it at the groundhog burrow entrance and around your yard.  The sent will trick groundhogs and deter them.

Motion-Detecting Water Sprinklers- These work well and will give groundhogs a wet scare, once these device detects motion will turn on but a word of caution these motion devices will target anything that moves so make sure not to place them in pathways where humans and pets may pass.

Put Up a Fence- The use of wire fencing around your yard and garden that is about 3 feet tall and goes about 12 inches underground is a great defense. Groundhogs won’t be able to climb it, and if they run into the fence underground will be forced to stop tunneling and go elsewhere. To be effective create a bracket shape by bending both the top and bottom of the fence to 90-degree angles toward the outside of the yard or garden.

Epsom Salt- Epsom salt is a natural product that will not harm groundhogs, sprinkle Epsom salt around the premier of your garden area and near groundhog burrows. This will deter them but you have to reapply Epsom salt to keep its effectiveness, especially after rainfall.

Additional information

• The holes that groundhogs dig can cause injury by persons stepping into these holes blindly, these holes can cause broken legs and even twisted ankles.
• When it comes to trapping I would call in the professionals because a trapped groundhog can become stressed if trapping is done incorrectly.

Conclusion

What we have looked at are some ways to keep groundhogs away, other methods can be used, but I am sure these methods will work for you. Why let groundhogs wreak havoc on your property when you can strike back stopping them in their tracks?