One of the support posts to the porch on my feed room has been gnawed by a ground hog. On 2 corners. We have acres of woods but the little asshats have to go for my buildings. Not to mention living under the tractor garage, too.
I’m not one for harassing wildlife but I really hate how destructive they are. They have to go
We got rid of ours with used cat litter. Just dump it in the holes.
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Seriously, Minuet???I have to try that! They will not go into my trqaps
Stacie --I’m a successful groundhog trapper of many, many years. My 20 acres of grass pasture are surrounded by woods --every year I trap. Last year was a bumper year --probably trapped 15-20. This year I think it’s been 5. I use a “HaveAHart” live trap one can buy at TSC or any place, really. My method is to go out really early --before dew has dried and see where the game trails are. These are “lines in the grass;” Groundhogs use the same route in-out of their dens. They graze in the pasture, then return to the den. I set my trap as close to the den as possible on the game trail. And leave it. Sometimes it takes 3-4 days --even a week --but the groundhog will go into the trap and trip it. Empty the trap and replace it. I’ve often gotten more than one groundhog using the same trail or maybe eve the same hole.
You can bait --I don’t. But I’ve heard cut cantaloupe is irresistible to groundhogs.
I have tried other methods --but trapping works best for me. FYI do not clean your trap —the scent of groundhog draws other groundhogs. But you MUST (by law) check your traps every 24 hours. Sometimes other critters are trapped that are good citizens --I let them go --coons, skunks, feral cats. Although I have been known to provide a meal for the cats before they go on their way.
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I once had a groundhog tunnel up in my dirt floor basement and start dragging my clothes down its hole!!
My landlord, once he finally believed me after seeing for himself, threw a non-poisonous smoke bomb down the hole and filled the basement entrance with cement.
That was 20+ years ago but it still makes me laugh when I tell the story.
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I have not heard of a ground hog chewing posts. Usually they just (!) wreak havoc by digging holes. Maybe a porcupine?
I was surprised by the chewing, too. I looked it up and apparently this is not uncommon
A groundhog is a woodchuck. And woodchucks chuck… well, you know.
Used kitty litter in the holes. They find it just as offensive as we do. The clumping stuff works the best. It’s slimy, sticky and gross.
I had a couple of colonies in my hay field and one under my shed. I filled every hole (each den usually has at least 2) and packed dirt down on top. If there are ground hogs in the holes, they will dig out and vacate. If they are outside of the hole and start to re-dig, once they hit the kitty litter, they abandon it.
I have not had an active den for 3-4 years now on 6 acres.
