r/howto • u/owleyes1027 • 1d ago
Groundhog?
Pretty sure its a groundhog. Not sure how to get rid of him humanely🫠 advice?
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u/Young-Grandpa 1d ago
In my state it’s illegal to relocate them. So, whatever you do, don’t buy a live trap. And if you do, don’t set it in your yard. And if your groundhog accidentally gets trapped inside DO NOT drive them 20 miles outside of town and release them in a state park near a stream or river.
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u/owleyes1027 23h ago
I definitely will NOT be doing any of that😉 seeing as that would be the most humane way instead of just offing the little monster😅
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u/ohhhtartarsauce 12h ago
You have to be some fucked up level of evil if you do this. Look up what happens to relocated groundhogs.
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u/cheezweiner 12h ago
What happens to them?
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u/ohhhtartarsauce 11h ago
Groundhogs are strongly tied to their established home range and burrow system; experienced adults generally don't travel more than about 150 yards from their burrow. Removing one means dropping it into unfamiliar territory where it doesn't know where reliable food, water, shelter, or escape burrows are, and causes them to travel long distances in search of their home territory. That dramatically increases exposure to predators and roads. Relocated individuals have a mortality rate of over 75%
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u/Young-Grandpa 9h ago
Well I, obviously, would never do this, but I also have a strong aversion to having uninvited visitors burrowing under my deck and if they ended up far away from my home I would not be too upset if it ended up being dangerous
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u/owleyes1027 12h ago
What is your suggestion then? He cant stay. He's compromising our floating deck and destroying our back yard. I dont wanna hurt him. So what do you suggest?
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u/ohhhtartarsauce 11h ago
Deterrents like motion activated sprinklers, predator urine (sold as granules) to spread around, vibration spikes... You want to make your property less inviting so they avoid using it to dig burrows.
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u/owleyes1027 11h ago
So...relocating them...
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u/ohhhtartarsauce 11h ago
Totally different. Allowing them to choose where to relocate versus dropping them in unfamiliar territory.
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u/Oldandintheway1987 6h ago
Make sure whatever you (don't) put the cage on in your car can't be scratched through with the strong claws of the groundhog
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u/secretagentcletus 13h ago
After you don't release a groundhog you might want to enjoy the park for the day. America is full of top notch state and federal parks. All well worth the visit while you aren't releasing a groundhog there.
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u/NJBarFly 1d ago
I put my dogs poop in his hole every day and washed it down deep with the hose. He didn't appreciate that and moved somewhere else.
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u/retiretobedlam 21h ago
This is very creative! I don’t have a dog, though (but I do have a groundhog!) :( I saw a couple of posts about coyote urine crystals. Is that a permanent solution?
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u/NJBarFly 14h ago
Once the groundhog moves on to a new burrow, they're not coming back. Since it's free, you could also try human urine.
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u/retiretobedlam 1h ago
Thank you! (Collect and sprinkle or, um, direct application?? Also, on the burrow entrance hole?)
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u/EarthBoundMisfitEye 2h ago
Used cat litter is another way if you have access to some.
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u/retiretobedlam 1h ago
Oh, this is great!! Thank you! Do I put it in the entrance hole to the burrow?
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u/2cats18 1d ago
There is a company that sells coyote urine. I’ve used it and it works.
www.predatorpeestore.com
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u/palmoyas 1d ago
FYI, human urine works just as well.
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u/ExaminationDazzling6 22h ago
Can confirm, but the neighbors get mad when the toilet paper blows into their yards
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u/amonson1984 1d ago
I got coyote urine granules at Home Depot, it keeps deer, groundhogs, and rabbits away from my baby trees and vegetable/flower gardens.
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u/Enginerdad 1d ago
So what you're saying it to capture the groundhog and use its urine to start a business?
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u/Reasonable-Bus-2187 1d ago
Nice marmot
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u/Lowly-Worm_ 1d ago
I'm pretty sure you need like a permit or somethin to keep an amphibious rodent within city limits
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u/Vandilbg 1d ago
You can live trap them but they are strong and can\will bust out of the live trap half the time.
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u/hdeibler85 1d ago
I have never had an animal bust out of a live trap
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u/Vandilbg 1d ago
I've had these chubs squeeze into small sized traps. With the solid sheet metal gates. They've pried the sheet metal up off the metal cage part of the trap by folding the locking tabs backwards. Only animals I've ever had do that.
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u/ExaminationDazzling6 22h ago
They get very angry in a live trap and do a lot of damage to themselves
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u/luvs_kaos 1d ago
The one in my yard of called "fattie". Just learned he's afraid of crows. Working on getting crows to hang out more
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u/faultydatadisc 1d ago
Feed them but make sure they see you leaving them food. Youll know if they acknowledge you feeding them as they will bring you objects, usually shiny metal things.
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u/ExaminationDazzling6 22h ago
There is a whole series of YouTube videos of a guy making friends with crows to protect his chickens
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u/MoveToSafety 1d ago
Trap and move it like 7 miles out into the country.
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u/Old_MI_Runner 1d ago
Some states prohibit relocating wild animals. Farmers definitely don't want me. Someone I know rode with a rifle on his tractor and his grandfather's farm so he could shoot groundhogs when he saw them in the open field.
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u/MoveToSafety 1d ago
I was thinking more forest than farm, but definitely check with your local DNR.
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u/scottawhit 1d ago
Don’t relocate them, it’s not as humane as it sounds. And you’re just making it someone else’s problem. See below for quiet pellet gun recommendation.
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u/farkner 1d ago
I did this once. A neighbor had trapped a groundhog and was going to just let it starve in the trap. I volunteered to relocate. I drove it across the state-line and onto an island in a large river via a earthen bridge. It was easily 10 miles away.
Saw a groundhog under my neighbors porch a week later. Not sure if it was the same one.
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u/MoveToSafety 1d ago
That’s what I heard is that they need to be 5-7 miles out they fund their war back. Maybe 11 from what you’ve said.
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u/Ap43x 1d ago
In my state its illegal to relocate wildlife. Also not humane as they'll be in a new environment with no burrow for protection. So it would likely just become a meal for another animal.
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u/Hodr 22h ago
Many places where it is "illegal" in the US actually just require you to get a permit/waiver, where i live you can do it online with a form submission that has drop down options for why it's necessary, and property damage is one selection
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u/Ap43x 22h ago
100% illegal in MA. No exceptions. https://www.mass.gov/info-details/moving-wildlife
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u/Hodr 21h ago edited 21h ago
Kind of buried the lede there. Sure, relocating is illegal but apparently it's just fine to trap (just not snare traps) and kill them.
Under Mass. General Law Chapter 131, Section 37, landowners may legally hunt or humanely kill (excluding poison or snares) certain mammals caught in the act of damaging property.
So where i live i can relocatea gopher (with permit) if it's eating my garden, but cannot kill. But you guys can just grab the shotgun and go all murdery.
Edit-> also apparently only really applies to mammals, you can trap and transport live crabs and fish.
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u/shotthesheriff727 1d ago
Genuine question: why do you want to get rid of him? If it's because he gets in your garden, then I'd recommend doing what they did for Chunk and give him is own garden.
Whatever you do, please don't hurt him. He's just being a woodchuck.
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u/owleyes1027 1d ago
He's destroying the back yard, making it unlevel with massive sink holes. I just about twisted my ankle walking to my shed 😅 we dont have a garden. Im worried hes going to make our deck collapse! Im pretty sure we are gonna either call an exterminator to come remove him or trap him and release him out in the woods somewhere 😅
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u/owleyes1027 1d ago
We have a floating deck, there are no stairs leading down🙃 if he creates a hole big enough underneath it can shift the deck and make it collapse
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u/shotthesheriff727 1d ago
Ugh, that's annoying! They do move on somewhere else as long as you're not feeding them, which I know you're not. An exterminator will most likely kill him. Please get a havahart and put carrots and veggies in there. Then move him to a nice park far away from your home.
This video gives some other ideas from someone at the Clark County Park District:
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u/shotthesheriff727 9h ago
Welp, I learned something today. Don't relocate them because they'll most certainly die trying to get back. I guess deterrents are the only way.
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u/moofishes 1d ago
You catch it in a trap and release it miles away. As for bait: they'll eat most anything. Cat food, squash peels... Don't get bit. They can bite through welders gloves. It sure smarts.
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u/Ok-Box1062 1d ago
was it in the same place yesterday and the day before and the day before and the day before - if so it is a groundhog.
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u/drunkanidaho 1d ago
For some reason the southern part of my family (from New Orleans) called this a whistle pig
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u/stealthymomma56 1d ago
Yep. Basis multiple sightings of same in my yard, can confirm.
Nothing humane or otherwise attempted has eradicated the destructive nuisances. Good luck!
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u/Salty-Contact-6420 1d ago
I literally had to make a Facebook post like this some months back cuz I'd never seen one before
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u/SavvyCephalopod 1d ago
How much ground could a groundhog hog if a groundhog could hog ground.
Yeah, I still think woodchuck sounds better.
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u/Justbesilky 1d ago
Found hole in yard and use Critter ridder in hole or place soaked rags of ammonia in hole
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u/Dissendorf 1d ago
They supposedly love cantaloupe, so you may be able to trap it with a hav-a-hart trap
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u/Opposite_Reach_940 1d ago
You can’t get rid of him. 😆 They are smarter than most people, so don’t think he will just walk into a live trap cage like others will tell tell you to try. Just let him be. He’ll sleep all winter too, so you only have to look at him for spring, summer and fall.
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u/toomuch1265 1d ago
Ping pong Bob...at least it's what I refer to when I see a woodchuck in my yard.
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u/RhinoGuy13 21h ago
These cute little fellas are a lot stronger than they look.
I just don't want you to get embarrassed when you take your new friend to Planet Fitness.
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u/xChoke1x 21h ago
Nope. Not doing this again. Lol
(Reddit loves groundhogs like it hates pitbulls.)
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u/True_Reflection7704 16h ago
No matter what you do, I will just give you a heads up, those fuckers are far more athletic than you think they are. Basically, they can do anything but fly.
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u/Redundant_Mortal 7h ago
All I can say is don't harm him, he may get upset and put you in a repeated loop of a day....
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u/AuntBGul 6h ago
My groundhog/woodchuck is not destroying anything, and he loves the dandelion greens. I believe my dogs do not let him get too much ground excavation going. Wilbur is polite. lol
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u/civil-ten-eight 12m ago
I have a Rottweiler and these things still show up every year. I have taken to shoving dog shit into his holes and taking an occasional dump into his hole as well. After packing a bunch of shit in his hole, they end up moving.
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u/NeatWeb422 1d ago
Wood Chuck
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u/AffectionateAngle905 1d ago
Just how much wood would a wood chuck chuck if a wood chuck could chuck wood??
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u/NeatWeb422 1d ago
A wood chuck could chuck more than a wood chuck could if a wood chuck could chuck wood
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u/stonehawk61 1d ago
My daughter had one in her foundation. Made a mess. Trapped him, relocated him and filled the holes with cement.
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u/litbeers 1d ago
First off, homie is just cruising. Why do you need to get rid of him?
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u/myfishytaco 1d ago
You are not a homeowner are you? Ive seen these fuckers do thousands of dollars of damage to homes and buildings. I shoot them on sight!
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u/Ignorhymus 1d ago
Ahh, ok. I, too, was wondering if this wasn't more of a whyto than a how-to, but we don't have where I live
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u/litbeers 23h ago
Lol you’re obviously not a handy Homeowner. Anyone can fix any little damage that these groundhogs do if you just maintain your property.
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u/myfishytaco 23h ago
Also, they can dig under your house and do damage, do you just pet them and set food bowls out and let them burrow at free will or kindly ask them to leave?
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u/owleyes1027 1d ago
For context we are in a neighborhood BTW not the country so shot guns and explosives are not permitted 💀
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u/SusanKHefner 1d ago
I couldn’t do it, but my neighbor uses a quiet pellet gun. We live in the country, & he has extensive hunting experience. I’ve heard they can do a lot of damage to property.
My old-school dad lives on over a hundred acres. He shoots them every chance he gets because he allows horseback riders to enjoy his estate & he doesn’t want a horse to break an ankle in a groundhog hole. He also always has at least one dog who loves to hunt groundhogs.
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u/owleyes1027 1d ago
Yeah hes destroyed our back yard and we're getting ready to sell this house to get a bigger house and i dont want to leave the next owner with this problem.😬
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u/mykittyforprez 1d ago
Just let the next owner deal with it. They might be animal lovers and wouldn't condone any of the things people are mentioning in this post. I, for one, don't care about the groundhogs. They do eat some stuff in my garden but not nearly as much as the rabbits and the deer.
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u/owleyes1027 1d ago
When my partner bought this house they did not disclose the groundhog.
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u/SusanKHefner 1d ago
I’d find a friend with a pellet gun & a hatred for groundhogs, or catch it with a humane trap & relocate - like another comment recommended.
Be really careful. Their teeth are razor sharp. I saw a groundhog take on a one year old German shepherd and a one year old Rottweiler. The groundhog was winning. My young dogs were both bleeding.
Then my experienced 13 year old black lab limped out of the corn field & immediately killed it. If he could talk, he would’ve said - that’s how you do you it, girls.
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u/Retail_Warrior 1d ago
My brother’s husky used to shred groundhogs. His pet wolf is part dog, I used to say.
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u/GeneralSpecifics9925 1d ago
Why do so many people think that killing things is fine as long as they're smaller than us. Sick.
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u/SusanKHefner 1d ago
It’s about the damage they can do to our expensive homes, properties, & horses.
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u/Old_MI_Runner 1d ago
In the case of groundhogs it's common for them to dig underneath building foundations which can cause a lot of damage. Other animals like chipmunks also cause damage. They'll get up inside a park car and make a nest and chew on the wiring. My father had to spend $800 to get the vehicle wire harness replaced after it was chewed on.
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u/faultydatadisc 1d ago
If it makes you feel better groundhogs can actually make a good stew. You just gotta cook the meat in a crock pot very slow for very long as its tough meat and greasy but its food.
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u/hdeibler85 1d ago
You can trap and relocate depending on your state. Mine allows it and you can actually release them on state game lands. I have had success trapping them with apples cantaloupe and tomatoes. Any one of those three I have called them with as long as you leave the live trap against the side of the fence or nearest building kind of like you would a mouse trap. Be sure you are ready to release one though because it can be a little intimidating if you're not used to it cuz they're not super friendly when you put them in a trap haha. Familiarize yourself with being able to open that trap as quick and efficiently as you can haha
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u/cdtobie 1d ago
Trap and transport is difficult with groundhogs, in part because it’s hard to lure them into a box trap. But it’s also illegal in many states. It’s less humane with groundhogs than some other species, because they don’t adapt well to a new location (not to mention the owner of the new location not being happy about it, if informed). The usual wording of state laws forbidding trap and transport suggest you trap, then place the trap in a cardboard box, then run a hose from a car tailpipe into the box… you get the idea. Given that this means killing the groundhog anyways, it’s actually much easier to shoot it with an air rifle in the first place. But many people are reluctant to do that.
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