Groundhogs, or woodchucks, frequently burrow under sheds and decks. They can create an extensive network of tunnels that can undermine the stability of the structure. The best way to prevent a groundhog from burrowing under a structure on your property is to exclude it with a steel mesh fence. It should go all the way around the perimeter of the shed or deck and go at least 18 inches underground. The bottom should curve outward to prevent a groundhog from digging underneath it. If you install a fence after a groundhog is already living under your shed or deck, be sure to leave a small opening so it can escape and then seal it off. You can put a one-way exclusion door to keep the groundhog from coming back. Many people are tempted to dig out or seal off a burrow to get rid of a groundhog. This can provoke the groundhog, and it can become aggressive and bite with its sharp front teeth. Sealing the exits will not work because the groundhog will just dig another one. Digging out a burrow can compromise the structure on top of it. If a groundhog has dug a burrow under your shed or deck, the best solution is to hire a professional wildlife removal service to trap and relocate it. Don’t do this yourself because wild animals can become aggressive. Anderson Wildlife Control has the knowledge and experience to safely and humanely trap and relocate a groundhog that is causing a nuisance. A groundhog can move as much as 700 pounds of dirt to dig its burrows. This can weaken a structure and make it unsafe to use. After the groundhog has been removed, have a builder or engineer inspect your shed or deck to make sure it is safe and take any necessary steps to stabilize it. Besides bringing news of a longer winter or an earlier spring, cute, furry groundhogs can destroy your lawn and garden. So, how do you get rid of groundhogs? You can use natural repellents, traps, scare tactics, gas cartridges, or your gun to get these furry, hole-digging lovers of vegetables and flowers off your land. Then, take steps (in-ground fencing, for example) to keep them away. Want to skip all this research and just hire a professional for your ground hog issues? We’ve partnered with Orkin to bring you top quality service on ground hog removal and other pest control services. But first, let’s take a closer look at groundhogs and the damage they can cause.
What are Groundhogs?Groundhogs, also known as woodchucks or “whistle-pigs,” are a type of mammal called a marmot, a member of the squirrel family. Although related to ground squirrels, they grow to be much larger — about 2 feet in length and 10 pounds in weight. Primarily herbivores, they will occasionally eat smaller rodents and insects. Brown with round bodies, ever-growing teeth, and long, strong claws used for digging their burrows, groundhogs can live up to six years in the wild. They make their homes in the wooded areas of the United States, parts of Alaska, and Canada. How to Identify Groundhog DamageGroundhogs hibernate from October through early February. When awake, groundhogs burrow, mate, and forage for food. Homeowners should look for signs of groundhog damage, including:
Keep in mind that these are also the hallmarks of other critters like moles and voles. Once you’re sure groundhogs are your culprit, and especially if they have burrowed beneath your garage, shed, foundation, or other structure (which can cause a host of issues), it’s time to send them packing. How to Get Rid of GroundhogsWhether groundhogs are rifling through your garden or burrowing underneath your foundation, deck, or shed, try these methods of ridding the nuisance from your land. 1. Use Natural Groundhog RepellentsThere are no commercial chemical repellents specifically to control groundhogs, but pesticides targeting other rodents placed at the entrance to a groundhog’s hole reportedly will work. Natural repellents that some people swear by include:
2. Trap and Release GroundhogsHere’s how to live trap a groundhog (humanely):
Pro Tip: Check state rules on groundhog traps. Cage-type traps are recommended, and body-gripping may not be allowed. Foothold traps require special skill and experience. Note: Trapping is not favored as a method of groundhog removal. According to the University of New Hampshire Extension, “Several factors make this a less attractive approach than you may think: Translocating a woodchuck from its home is subjecting the humanely trapped animal to a prolonged, very stressful ordeal that often ends in its death.” It’s also possible you may inadvertently trap other wildlife, or that the captured groundhog might be carrying rabies. 3. Target the Groundhogs’ HomeThe Humane Society recommends making the groundhogs’ home inhabitable (flooding and fumigation are two examples) to get them to leave. Flooding Groundhogs don’t like a wet den (who does?), so flooding works to get groundhogs out of their home and looking for drier land on which to dig their extensive tunnel systems. Fumigation Gas your groundhogs. The Missouri Department of Conservation suggests fumigating burrows with cartridges available at your neighborhood farm or home supply stores. Gas cartridges release carbon monoxide in lethal amounts in a groundhog’s burrows. How to plug a groundhog hole:
Note: Gas cartridges contain combustible materials, so don’t use them near buildings. Also, don’t breathe the smoke from the cartridges. 4. Use Scare TacticsMost attempts at frightening groundhogs don’t work well. Scarecrows that are moved around regularly or used on scarecrow sprinklers can offer temporary relief, but they don’t work long-term to frighten groundhogs into digging up someone else’s yard. Ultrasonic noise and vibrations can scare away groundhogs, moles, and other digging pests. Solar stakes that send ultrasonic pulses cause the ground to vibrate. The shaking leads groundhogs and other nuisance pests to seek safer quarters elsewhere. 5. Shoot ThemYes, you can remove groundhogs and other nuisance pests with a gun in Missouri and other states. The Missouri Department of Conservation recommends checking with local authorities regarding firearms use and adds this note: “A young, medium-sized, properly prepared groundhog makes excellent table fare.” How to Prevent Groundhogs from Moving inOnce you’ve said goodbye to your groundhog problem, here’s how to keep them from returning: 1. Build FencesAn in-ground fence is your best option for keeping groundhogs away from vegetable gardens and flower beds. The PennState Extension suggests a fence at least 3 feet high and buried 12 inches underground. Chicken wire or another sturdy wire fencing material is best to keep groundhogs, gophers, and raccoons out of your space. “As an additional measure, place an electric wire 4 to 5 inches off the ground and the same distance outside the fence,” the Extension office advises. “When connected to a fence charger, the electric wire will prevent climbing and burrowing.” You can also use hardware cloth buried 1 foot into the ground to deter groundhogs from burrowing under decks, foundations, and the like. Pro Tip: Before installing any type of fencing or barrier, make sure there aren’t any inhabited burrows nearby. You don’t want to accidentally trap groundhogs inside and cut them off from food and water. 2. Maintain Your YardRegularly trimming grasses, shrubs, and trees removes cover groundhogs use to evade predators. If sufficient cover no longer exists in an area, groundhogs may feel less safe and set out in search of a new home. 3. Use Plants as DeterrentsPlants with strong fragrances, such as lavender, will keep groundhogs out of your garden. The Farmers’ Almanac says groundhogs also dislike the smell of these herbs:
FAQ About How to Get Rid of GroundhogsSo, you think you know groundhogs? Maybe. Let’s see if you know the answers to these frequently asked questions. If you miss all of these, well, you’ll have to read the questions again and again until you can answer them correctly, sort of like the movie “Groundhog Day.” Are There Benefits to Groundhogs? Before deciding to get rid of groundhogs, understand that unless they’re causing a problem, they should be left alone. Groundhogs play an important role in our ecological system. Their abandoned burrows can become homes for other wildlife, such as foxes, skunks, and rabbits. They provide food for predators, including hawks, owls, coyotes, and eagles. Their occasionally problematic digging can even help aerate the soil and recycle nutrients. Like their squirrel and chipmunk brethren, groundhogs also don’t reproduce rapidly. Only socializing with a partner when it’s time to mate, adult females carry their young for about one month before giving birth to two to six pups. So, “infestation” isn’t a word you’d associate with these animals. Are Groundhogs Aggressive? Groundhogs spend most of their time inside their burrows, emerging a few hours during the day to gather food. When they are out and about, they do their best to avoid humans. If you happen upon a rabies-infected groundhog, it may attack unprovoked. Other than rabies, groundhogs are not considered harmful to people and do not usually transmit other diseases to them. When is the Best Time to Try to Get Rid of Groundhogs? The best time to plug a groundhog’s hole as a removal method is between July and late September. You don’t want to be ousting a groundhog right before hibernation nor during the time females are pregnant and raising their young. How Do I Get Rid of Groundhogs Under my Shed? To get rid of groundhogs under your shed, use the same tactics to get rid of them from any other part of your land. Around the perimeter of your shed, try the following DIY methods: • Spray predator urine • Spread dog or human hair clippings Why is a Groundhog Called a Whistle-Pig? If you have ever heard a groundhog screech when alarmed, whistle-pig makes perfect sense. Scientific American notes that a groundhog emits a high-pitched whistle as a warning to other groundhogs in the area. And what is the origin of the woodchuck name? It doesn’t have anything to do with wood. “Wuchak” is what the Algonquin called a groundhog. Get Groundhogs Gone with a ProIf your groundhog problem needs more attention than you’re able to give, call in a wildlife pest control professional. A licensed expert will assess your property for signs of groundhogs and create a custom plan to help you get rid of them. LawnStarter writer Nicki DeStasi updated this article. Main Image Credit: Marumari at the English language Wikipedia / CC BY-SA 3.0  Andréa ButlerDescendant of the Fulani tribe, Gettysburg-obsessed Marine Corps brat, and lover of all things writing and editing, Andréa Butler launched Sesi magazine and has penned articles for sites, such as LivingSocial, Talbot Digital, Xickle, Culturs magazine, and Rachel Ray. Andréa holds a B.A. in English from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and an M.A. in magazine journalism from Kent State University. What smells will keep groundhogs away?Their sensitive noses can't handle the pungent smell. Lavender – Try planting some lavender around the garden. While it smells lovely to us, groundhogs find it offensive and avoid the areas where it is. They also dislike the smell of these herbs: basil, chives, lemon balm, mint, sage, thyme, rosemary, and oregano.
What will keep groundhogs away?Groundhogs dislike the smell of herbs such as mint, sage, basil, rosemary, thyme, chives, and oregano. Planting these around the border of the yard or in places you'd like to protect (such as a vegetable garden) may keep groundhogs from wandering in.
How do you keep woodchucks away?Sprinkle blood meal, ground black pepper, dried blood, or talcum powder around the perimeter of your garden. You can try using hair clippings as well. Puree and strain hot peppers and garlic, mix them with water and enough liquid soap to make it stick, and spray it liberally around the garden.
Will vinegar get rid of woodchucks?Mix ammonia with washing detergent, vinegar, hot pepper and soap and pour the mixture down each hole. This may have to be repeated for a few days until the groundhogs go away.
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How to get rid of woodchucks under deck
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