How To Get Rid of Groundhogs In a Humane Way

how to, how to get rid of groundhogs in a humane way

Groundhog close-up profile view sitting at the entrance of its burrow with grass in its environment and surrounding habitat. Marmot Image. Picture. Portrait. Photo.

Groundhogs are adorable, unless they’ve eaten all your lettuce and dug big holes in your driveway. Well, even then they’re still pretty darling. But if they’ve become too bothersome and you want them out, some solutions don’t require lethal measures.

First, don’t panic just because you see groundhogs. “Groundhogs and homeowners often coexist for years without problems,” says Grace Kahler with the Humane Society of the United States. “They are shy, nearsighted animals that prefer to avoid conflict whenever possible. Despite their robust appearance, they are herbivores and are not interested in children and pets.”

But if they’ve overstayed or overeaten their welcome, here are some humane ways to gently encourage them to move out of your yard and garden.

About the Experts

Christine R. Maher, Ph.D., is a behavioral ecologist and biology professor at the University of Southern Maine.

Grace Kahler is program researcher for the Urban Wildlife team at the Humane Society of the United States.

Meg Pearson is training manager at Critter Control, with more than 13 years of industry experience.

Dan Blumstein, Ph.D is an evolutionary biologist and professor at UCLA who also studies groundhogs and other marmots at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory in Colorado.

What Are Groundhogs?

Groundhogs, aka woodchucks or whistle pigs, are essentially large ground squirrels. They weigh five to 10 pounds and measure 16 to 20 inches long.

These vegetarians are one of 14 species in the marmot family, related to tree squirrels, chipmunks and prairie dogs. They can also climb trees and swim!

How To Tell if You Have Groundhogs in Your Yard

Burrows about a foot in diameter, where they spend much of their lives, are one telltale sign. You might also notice the plants they’ve eaten, or just see them moseying around.

“They usually aren’t too shy around people, especially if there aren’t dogs around,” says Maher.

How To Get Rid of Groundhogs in a Humane Way

There are several ways to mitigate groundhog damage and encourage them to move on.

Start by making your yard an unwelcoming habitat, says Maher. “Even if someone shoots a woodchuck or traps them to relocate, if the habitat is favorable, then another could just move into the vacant territory,” she says.

Because groundhogs feel safe among tall plants, remove vegetation from around burrows and keep undergrowth sparse around buildings.

You can also try:

Eviction

Evict groundhogs from their burrows in mid to late summer, after the juveniles have become independent and before anyone’s chosen a hibernation spot. The Humane Society recommends blocking burrows with heavy-gauge, welded-wire fencing, with three-inch or smaller square holes.

Here’s how to proceed:

  • Make sure the burrow is unoccupied.
  • Bury the fencing at least a foot deep.
  • Secure it with landscape staples.
  • Monitor your yard for new activity and respond to it promptly.

Exclusion

Keep groundhogs out of your garden and yard using electric fences, chicken wire and other hard-wire fencing with mesh no bigger than three inches by three inches.

Some tips:

  • Bury fences a foot into the ground, with a foot-long 90-degree extension at the bottom, facing away from the garden.
  • Extend fences three to four feet above ground, and keep the materials loose so they’re wobbly to prevent climbing. If your fence is rigid, bend the top foot outward at a 45-degree angle and add bird netting to the top.
  • For electric fencing, the Humane Society recommends a single strand, six inches in front of the fence and four inches from the ground.

Alternate food sources

Once you’ve excluded your garden, give groundhogs an easier food source by making your compost pile accessible, but move it far away from the veggies. Or plant enough for everyone to share. Groundhogs particularly like dandelions and clover.

Trapping and translocation (not recommended)

Maher strongly discourages people from trapping and releasing groundhogs, which exposes them to dangers. A groundhog in a new area has no access to burrows and can’t hide from predators. Plus, they’re territorial and will force displaced ones to move on.

“A few years ago, I saw someone release a woodchuck along a trail,” says Maher. “When I came back an hour later, a dog had attacked it. I’m sure the person who released it would not have wanted it to die in that way.”

Hire a pro

Wildlife removal professionals may have resources for humanely trapping and relocating groundhogs. In this case, you should strongly consider hiring a pro.

“It’s critical to understand that there are federal, state and local wildlife protection laws you must abide by and are likely unfamiliar with,” says Pearson. “Additionally, wildlife can scratch, bite and carry a plethora of diseases.”

How To Prevent Groundhogs From Getting Into Your Yard

The most effective ways to discourage groundhogs are exclusion tactics (see above) and creating an environment where they feel vulnerable. “If the habitat is nice, then they’ll try to move in,” says Maher. “If they don’t like the habitat, they won’t settle there.”

To accomplish this:

  • Keep tall grasses and shrubs trimmed back, especially near foundations.
  • Remove rock, wood and brush piles that conceal potential den sites.
  • Try repellents, like coyote and fox urine (from farm supply stores). Reapply after rains and in different parts of the yard to mimic a predator lurking around.
  • Don’t exclude predators from your yard, like coyotes and foxes, which prey on groundhogs.
  • Let your dog roam, but don’t let them attack groundhogs. Groundhogs have large teeth and claws.

How To Stop Groundhogs From Eating Your Plants?

Fences that extend at least a foot underground are the best option. Other strategies include predator scents around the plants, although they sometimes get used to those, and scare devices. The latter include Mylar helium balloons attached near the ground, or beach balls suspended just above the ground.

You also can provide access to an easier-to-reach food source, like the compost pile as mentioned above.

FAQs

What are the benefits of groundhogs living in your yard?

Groundhogs are ecologically important, even in urban ecosystems. They provide food for larger predators and burrowed shelters for smaller animals, plus aerate soil and mix nutrients into the topsoil. They’re also fun to watch, especially when there are pups around.

“I would love to have a groundhog in my yard!” says Blumstein.

What are the downsides of groundhogs in your yard?

They might eat your garden or damage driveways and lawns by digging. Also, like all mammals, they can carry rabies and host mites, ticks and fleas.

What time of day do groundhogs come out?

Groundhogs are active when the sun is up, especially early morning and evening, but you won’t see them in winter.

“Groundhogs are one of the few true hibernators homeowners encounter on their property,” says Pearson. “They will hibernate during the winter and start to make their appearance as the weather warms.”

Do groundhogs make sounds?

Yes. You’re most likely to hear their shrill predator alarm call. They also squeak, growl and chirp, plus males make soft cooing noises during courtship.

“While we don’t know as much as we should about the social lives of groundhogs, there is increasing and fascinating evidence that they are much more social than first thought,” says Kahler.

Are groundhogs dangerous to pets?

Not if they’re left alone. “Pets are more dangerous to groundhogs than vice versa,” says Blumstein. “Dogs that chase them and corner them may get defensively bitten, but groundhogs will not attack unless provoked.”

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