How to Get Rid of a Groundhog in Your Yard

Groundhogs are actually quite entertaining little fellas; although if you're an avid gardener you're probably not all that fond of them. They can decimate a vegetable garden in record time and do a number on your lawn as well. They belong to the squirrel family and are rather industrious little rodents. 

Why Groundhogs Are Attracted to Your Yard

Since you've landed on this page, it's probably safe to assume that you have indeed groundhogs in your yard. But why? What makes your yard a place for groundhog activity and is there something you can do to convince them to move on? Let's find out!

Vegetable Garden

Yep, your vegetable garden is sure to get a grounhog's attention. They love to munch on broccoli, celery, squash, corn, peas, carrots, cabbage, and lettuce. Also, alfalfa, dandelions, and plantain are favorites. If you're a gardener, you'll definitely want to work on how to get rid of a groundhog.

Berries and Fruit Trees

So, you've got a lovely orchard? Well, your friendly neighbourhood groundhog will deeply appreciate your strawberries, blackberries, apples, cherries, mulberries, hackberries, and pears. Oh, and nuts and acorns make tasty groundhog treats, too!

Flower Garden

Your meticlous flower garden may also be a main attraction for the local groundhog. And somewhat suprisingly, flowers usually planted to keep pests away (like marigold) - well, that won't work for groundhogs. They're also partial to snapdragons, sunflowers, asters and many more flowers.

Signs of Groundhog Activity

Even if you haven't yet laid eyes on your backyard groundhog, there are signs! Oh, there are signs!

Burrows

As groundhogs spend most of their time underground, their burrows are vast and elaborate. Besides one main entrance, there may be  one to four secondary entrances. A groundhog burrow will go down several feet, then incline back upward for a few feet. After that, it can go on horizontally for 15 - 25 feet. This quite ingenious design prevents the tunnel from flooding. The main tunnel will branch off into two to three side tunnels wich make up separate areas, for differnent purposes. One of these areas is used exclusively as a latrine. Groundhogs are very clean animasl and will deposit all of their waste in this latrine area. After a latrine is full, the area is sealed off and a new latrine area is dug. Occasionally, a groundhog may remove the dried excrement and bury it outside the burrow. This is why you are not likely to find any groundhog droppings on the surface. The other areas make up dens; this is where child rearing, sleeping, and hibernating happens. 

If you're not entirely sure if what you've got is a woodchuck (groundhog) or a gopher, have a look at a detailed comparison here: https://www.hawkeye.ca/blog/gopher-vs-groundhog

Mounds of Dirt

Identifying the main entrance to a burrow is often the first step in how to get rid of a groundhog. If groundhogs are your backyard guests, you will find a mound of excavated soil with a visible hole. This is the opening to the main access to the tunnel leading to the burrow.  

Tracks

Groundhog tracks are fairly easy to identify; they are spaced 4 to 12 inches apart, with four toes on the front paws and five toes on the back. The front paws have curved, sharp claws - perfect for excavating your yard.

Vegetation Damage

Pulled up carrots and nibbled on broccoli are pretty easy to spot. What might not be so obvious, are damaged roots. Groundhogs also chew or dig up all types of roots - from flowers to trees and everything in between. Much of that is just collateral damage from tunneling. So, if your plants or trees seem to be struggling, you might have to have a look at their root condition. Pay close attention to tunnels around the roots, as air pockets could dry out roots or prevent proper water retention.

Humane Deterrent Methods

Habitat Modification

How to get rid of a groundhog can be as easy as throwing a few beach balls into your yard and letting them roll around. Groundhogs are easily frightened. A radio tuned to talk radio and some lights on a timer around the entrance to the burrow can also make the space a bit less inviting. Having your canine companian patrol the yard, is a good idea as well. Of course, filling in the tunnel is an option (as long as there are no babies in the den) but this will have to be repeated several times and result in more groundhog hills in your yard until the animal gives up. Commercially available anti dig aprons may be an option for groundhog habitat modification, albeit a much more involved and costly one.

Natural Repellents

Groundhogs possess a very keen sense of smell. While there isn't a bomb proof groundhog repellent, there are a few scents and plants they seem to avoid: Try planting some garlic, lavender, basil, chives, lemon balm, mint, sage, thyme, rosemary, and oregano in your yard. They also do not care for the smell of cayenne pepper, castor oil, or and apple cider vinegar. Experiement with mixing some of these ingredients for your own natural groundhog remedies.

Physical Barriers and Exclusion Techniques

Fencing Options

When it comes to fencing, there are a couple of things to consider so you end up with groundhog-proof fencing.

1. You need some chicken wire or hardware cloth covering the ground at the base of your fence (excellent diggers, remember?)
2. You should leave a foot or more of unsupported chicken wire at the top;. While groundhogs are quite agile climbers as well, they do not like an usupported or flimsy fence. Chances are they'll make it half way up your fence and give up once reaching the unsupported wire.
   
   

Groundhog Damage

Since they are kinda cute and fuzzy critters, and a mound of dirt may not be too horrible - why should you take measures to keep groundhogs out of your yard? The biggest issue is are the underground tunnels to their burrows. Digging, tunneling, and disturbing the areas around your home, can very well undermine the integrity of your foundation. And that comes with an expensive price tag. Human and other animal injury from stepping into a hole or onto a collapsing tunnel is also not uncommon. And, if you take gardening or, God forbid farming seriously - well, then you will definitley notice a greatly reduces yield of your efforts.

Coexisting with Wildlife While Protecting Your Property with Hawkeye 

If your groundhog is not hear the house or garden or if you can erect a fence suitable for keeping groundhogs out, you might just pour a cup of coffee and pull up a chair and enjoy watching your visitor. Groundhogs generally construct and move to a different burrow for the winter (where they will hibernate), so this visitor will be temporary. However, if your home's foundation is in danger or your groundhog designated the space under your deck as his or her den, it's time to act and call in the Wildlife Animal Control experts and let them deal with how to get rid of a groundhog. Please do not handle groundhogs yourself - they are quite territorial and carriers of rabies. Live trapping groundhogs and/or relocation also must be done by a professional. Call Hawkeye Bird & Animal Control and let our licensed and trained technicians deal with the humane groundhog or woodchuck removal from your yard.