Getting Rid of Groundhogs in Your Yard

Image: Kingstongal

Groundhog Day is a quirky, fun event that takes place every February 2. But there’s nothing fun about having these pesky, burrowing rodents on your property. Although groundhogs, a.k.a. “woodchucks,” may not actually chuck wood, they can remove 700 pounds of soil to construct a 20- to 25-foot-long burrow with multiple chambers. These types of tunnels can pose a serious threat to homes by damaging and undermining building foundations. Getting rid of groundhogs under deck structures is essential for the safety of your family.

How to Get Rid of Groundhog Pests Using Live Traps

Fortunately, there are ways to trap these nuisance varmints safely and humanely. By baiting groundhog traps, you can capture one and then release it into the wild, without having to get too “up close and personal.” Place the trap about five to 10 feet away from the burrow hole so that even the most unmotivated critter is sure to stumble across it eventually. Camouflage the trap with canvas or vegetation for a more natural appearance.

Be Familiar with the Laws When Getting Rid of Groundhogs

Before you try using a trap for getting rid of groundhogs under the house, be sure to check with your local gaming commission on the trapping laws in your area.

Best Bait for Groundhogs

Despite their chubby appearance, groundhogs actually prefer salad over steak. The best bait for groundhogs is fresh string beans, sweet corn, lettuce, peas, strawberries, cucumbers, peaches and vanilla extract. But if you really want to find the way to a groundhog’s heart, try fresh cantaloupe.

Groundhog baiting tips from professionals include cutting the cantaloupe into sizeable chunks and rubbing it all over the trap – inside and out – before placing it toward the back of the trap. You can also rub the cantaloupe in the grass leading from the burrow to the trap to create a tempting trail.

Have Groundhogs in the Garden? You Need Groundhog Repellent Tips

While trapping groundhogs can help solve your problem, it can be much easier to keep them away in the first place. When deciding how to repel groundhogs, one option is to make you own repellent by diluting hot pepper sauces with water and spraying it on plants. You can also use Epsom salts to get rid of groundhogs, although this tends to wash away easily when it rains.

The Best Way to Get Rid of Groundhogs

But if you’re really serious about wanting to deter groundhogs, using a groundhog repellent that works on both the groundhog’s taste and scent senses should do the trick. Use a granular repellent to keep groundhogs out of garden, lawn and landscaped areas during the winter because it can be used below freezing. Use a liquid repellent to get rid of groundhogs when you have large areas requiring protection as it can be easier to apply.

Now you know how to properly deter groundhogs, whether it’s February 2 or any other day.