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Groundhogs are a common backyard pest in Alaska, Canada, and the Eastern United States. They live in burrows 2-5 feet underground, which can extend up to 30 feet horizontally. Groundhogs are drawn to gardens as a source of food, a relatively predator-free zone, and because their soft soil is perfect for burrowing; they can eat as much as a pound of vegetation per day, [1] X Research source and their burrows can do significant structural damage to buildings. [2] X Research source [3] X Research source The good news is that there are numerous ways to get rid of groundhogs: you can trap them humanely, fumigate them, and exterminate them without fumigation. You can also discourage groundhogs from settling down by making your garden or yard less appealing.
Steps
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Do your research. Before you commit to trapping groundhogs in a live trap and releasing them elsewhere, be sure to check with your state’s wildlife agency about relocating trapped wildlife, as laws vary from state to state.
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Wear gloves when handling the trap, to keep your scent off it. Place it trap directly in front of the burrow entrance. It can be helpful to spray it with a hose and roll it in dirt to help camouflage it. [4] X Research sourceAdvertisement
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Bait the trap with fruits or vegetables. [5] X Research source Groundhogs particularly like cantaloupe, but if you have noticed anything disappearing especially quickly from your garden you can use this as well. [6] X Research source The bait should be placed as far back as possible, to ensure that the groundhog must enter the cage fully in order to reach it. Place a brick on top of the cage to help prevent the animal from rolling it over once trapped. [7] X Research source
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Camouflage the trap. Place sticks, dirt, and leaves inside and around it, [8] X Research source and then set the trigger. This will vary slightly depending on the trap you purchased. Follow the instructions on the packaging carefully.
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Check the trap regularly. A trapped groundhog is an unhappy groundhog, and the longer you leave it in the trap the more likely it is to injure itself in distress. [9] X Research source Once you have trapped a groundhog, handle the cage only while wearing thick gloves, and hold it away from your body.
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Release the groundhog. Transport it at least 5 miles away from your property, to an area that will be attractive to it as a new home. While groundhogs are not usually aggressive, you should stand back as it exits the trap. [10] X Research source
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Consider carefully. There is a good chance poison is not your best bet. Many people do not recommend using poison to deal with groundhogs, for a number of reasons. [11] X Research source Before you resort to this method, consider bringing in a professional to assess the situation.
- Killing animals with poison often inflicts great suffering. The groundhog may die slowly from internal bleeding, suffocation, or a number of other painful things, over the course of hours or days. [12] X Research source
- It is not reliably effective. Most legal rodent poisons are designed to kill rats or mice, not woodchucks. [13] X Research source
- Substances toxic to groundhogs are also toxic to humans and all other animals. Pets can and frequently do get into poison, and it can impact human health as well. [14] X Research source
- The best-case scenario is that you will have toxic, rotting rodent bodies in your lawn to dispose of. The bodies will smell awful as they decay underground, and may attract other pests. [15] X Research source [16] X Research source
- The cleanup process can be time-consuming and dangerous. [17] X Research source
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Pick your moment. Groundhogs tend to go into hibernation in late September or early October, and their hibernation chamber is walled off, making them impossible to fumigate after this time. [18] X Research source
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Locate all the burrow entrances. Place a piece of pre-cut sod beside each one. [19] X Research source
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Read the instructions carefully. The process of igniting and placing the fumigation cartridge varies from brand to brand. [20] X Research source
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Light the cartridge. Place it as deep inside the burrow as you can reach without throwing it. Use the end of a shovel to push it even farther. [21] X Research source
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Place the pre-cut sod into the hole. Stomp on it to create an airtight seal. Wait about five minutes, and watch the other holes to see if they are leaking smoke. If so, seal them with sod. Repeat until all the burrow entrances are tightly sealed. [22] X Research source
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Use lethal traps. This can often be an inhumane solution, as these traps do not always kill animals instantly. It can also be difficult to know which burrow entrance to place the trap outside, and the traps pose a significant danger to small children and pets. The specifics of setting lethal traps vary depending on the type you buy, and you should pay close attention to the instructions. [23] X Research source
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Poison them. This poses the same threats as traps and fumigation: the poison poses a danger to pets and people, and the bodies will be very hard to deal with if they die underground. If you decide to go this route, however, the process is very straightforward: place the poison in the areas of your garden that the groundhogs most like to frequent. [24] X Research source
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Shoot them. This is generally only an option if you live in a removed area, and are an excellent marksman. A groundhog that has been shot but not killed can become much more dangerous and aggressive than it otherwise would be, and can present a real danger to children and pets if it gets away. As such, this is generally not a recommended way to deal with groundhogs. [25] X Research source
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Make your yard less attractive to groundhogs. The best way to deal with groundhogs is to be proactive, and keep them from making their home in your garden to begin with. If you already have a groundhog problem, come back to this section when you have gotten rid of them to help keep your property groundhog-free.
- Harvest vegetables as early as possible. [26] X Research source
- Remove brush and piles of rock from your yard to help make them feel more exposed, and trim back any overgrown foliage. [27] X Research source Because they are prey animals, groundhogs feel most comfortable when they can easily take cover from predators.
- Remove tree trunks they could use to grind down their teeth. [28] X Research source
- Fill in abandoned burrows with rocks or gravel. [29] X Research source
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Build a fence around your garden. Although they don’t look much like their squirrel cousins, groundhogs are surprisingly good climbers. To be effective at keeping them out, a fence should be made of wire with openings no larger than 3 inches. They should measure 3 or 4 feet above ground level, go at least 2 foot deep into the ground, and bend out awkwardly at the top to make climbing difficult; if possible, create an “L” shape underground for maximum effectiveness. [30] X Research source
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Sprinkle the plants in your garden with Epsom salts. This will make them taste bad to groundhogs. The salts will wash off in the rain, however, and need to be reapplied. [31] X Research source
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Scare them off. If groundhogs think your yard is frequented by predators, they will be less likely to set up shop there. If you have a cat, sprinkle small piles of used cat litter strategically around your garden. If you do not have a cat, ammonia-soaked rags can be used to similar effect (the groundhogs will mistake the smell of ammonia for urine). Ammonia can damage your lawn, so if this is a concern you should put the rags on top of stones or pieces of wood. You can also buy a number of chemical repellents for this purpose, though there is some debate about how effective these really are. [32] X Research source
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Expert Q&A
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QuestionWhat are your best options to deal with groundhogs?Elmer Bensinger is a Pest Control Specialist with Eden Advanced Pest Technologies in Spokane, Washington. With over 20 years of experience, Elmer specializes in integrated pest management and products such as insecticides and rodenticides. He studied business at South Puget Sound Community College.What we have found works best is the carbon dioxide. You use the machine and, basically, it just floods the chambers down there with the carbon dioxide, and they just die in the runs. It's highly effective.
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QuestionWhat is the best food to trap a groundhog?Community AnswerI generally read that cantaloupe is a favorite, but I caught 6 groundhogs in 4 days using apple slices.
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QuestionIf I fill the burrow with concrete, will this deter the groundhog?Community AnswerNo, groundhogs will always dig around any type of obstacle.
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Tips
- Groundhogs are known carriers of rabies. If you or your pets are bitten by one, seek medical attention immediately. [33] X Research sourceThanks
- If you are having trouble eradicating groundhogs on your own, do not hesitate to seek professional help.Thanks
- Cayenne pepper will deter them.Thanks
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Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about pest control, check out our in-depth interview with Elmer Bensinger .
References
- ↑ http://www.doyourownpestcontrol.com/groundhog.htm
- ↑ http://www.aaanimalcontrol.com/professional-trapper/howtogetridofgroundhogs.htm
- ↑ http://www.wildlife-removal.com/groundhog.htm
- ↑ http://www.havahart.com/how-to-trap-groundhogs
- ↑ http://www.doyourownpestcontrol.com/groundhog.htm
- ↑ http://www.havahart.com/how-to-trap-groundhogs
- ↑ http://www.havahart.com/how-to-get-rid-of-groundhogs
- ↑ http://www.havahart.com/how-to-get-rid-of-groundhogs
- ↑ http://www.havahart.com/how-to-trap-groundhogs
- ↑ http://www.havahart.com/how-to-trap-groundhogs
- ↑ http://www.wildlifeanimalcontrol.com/groundhogs.html
- ↑ http://www.wildlife-removal.com/groundhog-poison.html
- ↑ http://www.wildlife-removal.com/groundhog-poison.html
- ↑ http://www.wildlife-removal.com/groundhog-poison.html
- ↑ http://www.wildlife-removal.com/groundhog-poison.html
- ↑ http://www.wildlifeanimalcontrol.com/groundhogkill.html
- ↑ http://www.wildlife-removal.com/groundhog-poison.html
- ↑ http://www.doyourownpestcontrol.com/groundhog.htm
- ↑ http://www.doyourownpestcontrol.com/groundhog.htm
- ↑ http://www.doyourownpestcontrol.com/groundhog.htm
- ↑ http://www.doyourownpestcontrol.com/groundhog.htm
- ↑ http://www.doyourownpestcontrol.com/groundhog.htm
- ↑ http://www.wildlifeanimalcontrol.com/groundhogkill.html
- ↑ http://www.wildlifeanimalcontrol.com/groundhogkill.html
- ↑ http://www.wildlifeanimalcontrol.com/groundhogkill.html
- ↑ http://www.doyourownpestcontrol.com/groundhog.htm
- ↑ http://www.doyourownpestcontrol.com/groundhog.htm
- ↑ http://www.doyourownpestcontrol.com/groundhog.htm
- ↑ http://www.doyourownpestcontrol.com/groundhog.htm
- ↑ http://www.havahart.com/how-to-get-rid-of-groundhogs
- ↑ http://www.wildlife-removal.com/groundhog-poison.html
- ↑ http://www.wildlifeanimalcontrol.com/groundhogrepellent.html
- ↑ http://www.aaanimalcontrol.com/professional-trapper/howtogetridofgroundhogs.htm
About This Article
Article Summary
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If you want to repel groundhogs from your garden without harming them, try sprinkling used cat litter around your yard so the groundhogs think predators are around. If you don’t have a cat, you can leave ammonia-soaked rags around your yard instead. Just place the rags on blocks of wood to protect your yard from damage. You can also sprinkle Epsom salt around you yard to make plants taste bad, but you’ll have to reapply it after every rain. Keep reading to learn how to trap and fumigate groundhogs!
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Reader Success Stories
- "This article was very useful in my plan to trap a groundhog in my yard. I bated my trap with cantaloupe. I cut a wedge of cantaloupe and cubed it then placed the pieces in my one door trap behind the trip plate. I then cut another wedge and rubbed it on the trap entrance area and over the sides of the trap. I placed the trap out around noon in an area I saw the ground hog traveling and checked it at sunset and there he was. I took him to a wildlife refuge and let him out. " ..." more
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"This article was very useful in my plan to trap a groundhog in my yard. I bated my trap with cantaloupe. I cut a wedge of cantaloupe and cubed it then placed the pieces in my one door trap behind the trip plate. I then cut another wedge and rubbed it on the trap entrance area and over the sides of the trap. I placed the trap out around noon in an area I saw the ground hog traveling and checked it at sunset and there he was. I took him to a wildlife refuge and let him out. "
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"I have to agree that trying to trap a ground hog is impossible. I've done everything known to mankind aside from shooting them. Unfortunately, I live too close to other dwellings, so this isn't an option for me. This year I will be using fencing."
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"We used the hints in your article as well as I commercially bought granules to discourage them from staying in our yard."
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"Now that I know that used kitty litter may deter them, I'll try putting some around my garden and see if it helps."
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"I am having a big fat groundhog problem. The article gave me good ideas about how to deal with them humanely."
