How to Get Rid of Groundhogs

Introduction:

Get rid of groundhogs before they eat your garden and dig up your yard.  Groundhogs are diggers and will burrow under your house, deck or in the center of your prized flower or vegetable garden. When they are not digging, they are foraging in your gardens.  A groundhogs den may have several entrances and can go on for fifty feet, therefore if a groundhog has staked out your property then chances are you have the entire groundhog family.   Here are some tips on how to get rid of  groundhogs before they cause damage to your homes foundation or destroy your yard.

Step 1:

Alter the groundhogs comfort zone by fencing in your yard and add an outside dog.  No groundhog will burrow into your yard as long as the dog is on patrol.

Step 2:

Locate the entrance to the groundhog den.  Fill in the den entrance by pouring cement over the hole and then a layer of soil.  Block the den entrances that are located on your property.  The groundhog has many entrances to their den and will escape through another opening.

Step 3:

Purchase a wildlife trap and clean the trap with dawn unscented dish soap.  Do this to remove the human scent.  Wear latex gloves when you handle the trap.  Line the trap with newspaper.  Bait the trap with fresh broccoli or an apple.  Place the bait in the back of the trap.  Set the trap at the entrance of the groundhog den.  Watch the trap.  When the door closes run out and throw a cloth tarp over the entire trap.  This covering will comfort the frightened groundhog.  Remove the trap to a shady area until you transport the groundhog to another location.

Tips

Contact your local animal control before trapping in city limits.

Trap in the daylight hours only.  Groundhogs feed during the day and sleep in den at night.

Trap in early spring as groundhogs bear offspring in April and May

Offensive smells, tastes and motion detectors will not get rid of groundhogs.  .

Warning

Provide food and water if leaving the groundhog in the trap for over an hour.

Groundhogs eat Echninacea coneflowers

Other Pest Control Articles:

Keep Stray Cats Out of Yard and Garden

How to Keep Cats Off Your Car

How to Prevent Deer from Eating Tulips

Groundhog Image Credit

Comments (3)

jswana said:

	... Great article on getting rid of groundhogs. Thanks for sharing.
	report abuse vote down vote up

April 22, 2010
Votes: +0

Bailey4 said:

	... Great tips for removing groundhogs 5*.
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May 03, 2010
Votes: +0

Susan Woods said:

	... I trapped and removed a total of 12 groundhogs that were eating my plants like they were an all-day buffet. I released them on land that was across the creek so they will dig a new tunnel for their den and will not return to my yard.
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October 12, 2010
Votes: +1