Groundhogs might just as well be the most intelligent amongst the burrowers but they are particularly burdensome to deal with. Adult groundhogs are capable of building underground tunnel systems of up to 66 feet and they are even doing so on different levels. Finding the burrow entrance is without a doubt something important if you want to make sure that you begin getting rid of them.
However, we’ve taken the liberty of giving up some of the natural as well as lethal solutions of getting rid of this varmint pest. This is going to ensure that your backyard is safe and that there are no significant damages to your structures and plants. Without any further ado, let’s have a look.
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5 Natural Ways to Get Rid of Groundhogs
These are all non-lethal groundhog solutions even though some of them might, by chance, eliminate them. However, this is not their designation. Let’s have a look.
1. Set up a Trap
Of course, this is an effective method of taking care of the groundhog issue but it’s only going to work if there isn’t an infestation. If you had to deal with an infestation, setting up a trap is definitely not going to be as effective as other solutions. After all, a single catch trap is going to do just this – it’s going to get rid of one groundhog, what about the remaining 10?
2. Build a Fence
Arguably one of the most effective ways to prevent infestation. The first thing that you need to understand is that woodchucks are burrowers – they are going to ensure that you get under your fence if they had to. That’s why you can take advantage of metal underground installation. They don’t go so deep – there is no need to worry. Just make sure that they are laid down conveniently and the groundhog problem is not even going to come to your backyard.
3. Deter Them with Scent
AS it is with other underground varmints, adult groundhogs have very strong scent sensors. This is also the main reason for which you can take advantage of this and repel them off with a range of different solutions. Cat litter, human hair as well as ammonia – all of these are particularly effective and they are going to get rid of the rodents effectively. They are also going to have a negative impact on baby groundhogs so you can effectively handle that threat as well.
4. Flush Them Out
Remember how we said that there are certain natural remedies which are also capable of killing the animal? Well, flooding their burrows is one of these. If the woodchuck fails to get out on time, the water is going to drown it, it’s as simple as that. However, as they are going to sense the water coming far ahead, they are likely to be able to escape.
5. Eliminate Attractants
Apart from eliminating the attractants, you might also be able to effectively plant some of their favorite food sources away from your yard. This is going to redirect the pest, so to speak, and it’s going to help you get rid of it effectively. It’s undoubtedly one of the best ways to handle them without harming the animal while ensuring maximum protection at the same time.
Ae mentioned, hungry woodchucks can cause quite a lot of damage and sometimes you might have to eliminate the animal. However, keep in mind that this is usually going to be a lot burdensome than dealing with the woodchuck problem in a non-lethal way.
4 Lethal Solutions
1. Fumigation
Fumigation, as the name suggests, requires the usage of lethal fumes which are going to kill the animals while they are in their burrows. This is best performed with the use of a cartridge and it’s surely something that you might want to consult a professional about.
2. Using lethal Traps
As we mentioned above, if you have an issue with a separate animal, which is rarely the case, trapping it might be a good idea. As there are non-lethal groundhog solutions in this regard, there are also lethal ones that you might prefer. However, you should most definitely check if this is actually allowed in your state as not all of them allow it.
3. Poisoning the Groundhogs
This is by far one of the most effective and the best anti-rodent remedy as it is definitely going to help you get rid of them quickly. However, as it is with other lethal methods, you need to ensure that it’s not forbidden by law as you can get in trouble if it is. This is certainly something to consider.
4. Shoot Them
It’s exactly as it sounds. You will have to use their favorite foods as baits and then wait for them to come out and just pull the trigger. It’s as easy as this. It might take some time but it’s an effective lethal method of handling the rodent.
Also, there are certain repellents which are particularly effective. They are recommended by a lot of professionals and they might be something that you want to take into account when it comes to it. They include:
- Woodstream Live Animal Cage Trap.
- Duke Double Spring Body Trap Jaw Spread.
- The Giant Destroyer.
- Shake-Aways All Natural Small Critter Repellent.
- Hoont Powerful Ultrasonic Outdoor Repeller.
In any case, there are quite a lot of different groundhog control methods that you can employ, depending on the outcome that you want to achieve. This is something that you might want to take into proper account when it comes to it and you need to make sure that you choose wisely. It’s also something which is going to ensure that you have no future issues with these varmints. Make sure that you choose carefully, though, because this is something which is going to have an impact on your entire garden and as such you need to do your best.