How to Keep Groundhogs Away From Your Property

Do you often see groundhogs around your property? In addition, are you looking for a means to prevent them from accessing your property? Well, this article is for you then. Groundhogs are small-sized mammals, with one of their main distinctive features being their digging prowess. They are capable of tunneling up to 45 feet underground. These small mammals are originally from North America, commonly found in the central and northern parts. Even if you are so in love with nature, groundhogs can annoy you to the point of not wanting them around your yard. Their incessant burrowing eventually destroys your yard and the plants present in your garden. Not only will they dig up your yard and uproot your vegetation, but they will also burrow under your house in their quest to find shelter. This result of such action is a weakened housing structure, and if left unchecked, structural failure becomes inevitable. Your yard and/or home garden is not the only place where groundhogs regularly visit. Agricultural fields are their very own kitchen. In the case of farming, farmers experience crop loss, as well as an alteration in the topography of their farmland. These wildlife critters, apart from their incessant burrowing, are constantly feeding on diverse vegetation. They will snack on leaves, grass, fruits, flowers, roots, and even tree barks. Groundhog burrows will also trap some unsuspecting farming equipment if farmers are not careful enough. Farmers and property owners are not the only people who suffer from groundhog activities. Groundhogs passively inflict physical damages to humans and animals alike. An unsuspecting person or pet will sustain some form of injury like a broken limb or a twisted ankle if they step into a groundhog burrow unknowingly. They will also actively destroy underground plumbing and electrical systems. If you have grown tired of groundhogs attacking your property and wish to prevent them from entering your property, you can take some steps to ensure that. Here are some steps for you to keep groundhogs away from your property.

  • Keep Them Away from Free Food
Just like any other rodent, the groundhog will not miss a chance to get free food. The quest for food is among the main factors that encourage groundhog activities. You can limit their number and even completely keep them out by removing any form of free food. Pick up fallen fruits and seeds and dispose of them in a secure bin.
  • Introduce Groundhog Repellents 
There are different groundhog repellents for you to choose from, and most of them are available in your local store. Epsom salt is the most common repellent. Their chemical properties make vegetation unappealing to groundhogs. Sprinkle Epsom salts on the leaves and fruits of your garden vegetation, rendering them unappealing to groundhogs. The best thing about this is that you do not taste any change when feasting on your garden produce. You can also soak a rag in ammonia and drag it along the perimeter of your property. Groundhogs will always avoid areas with foul smells.
  • Carry Out Landscaping
Overgrown shrubs, overgrown lawns, brush piles, and weed-infested gardens are common places where you will find groundhogs. These places serve as excellent hideouts for these rodents, and it serves as a perpetual food source. It is like killing two birds with one stone. Carrying out regular landscaping and lawn maintenance will help reduce the number of groundhogs that set up residence on your property. Remove dandelions and clovers as these grasses are a groundhog's favorite.
  • Build a Fence Around Your Property
Building a fence around your property is a good step to take to keep out groundhogs and other similar wildlife animals. The best fence option is a metal fence because it is sturdy and can withstand a reasonable amount of stress. Groundhogs can chew through wood with their sharp teeth, so the metallic fence acts as a deterrent. You can also add chicken wire or wire mesh at the base of the fence to stop the groundhogs from digging under the fence. Groundhogs can dig about 45 feet into the ground, so you should keep that in mind when modifying your fence. For extra measure, you can add concrete to the base before the chicken wire reinforcement. The concrete stops groundhogs from digging, making them incapable of entering your area.
  • Set Up Traps
You can also make use of traps placed outside your property to reduce the number of groundhogs making it into your property. Place the trap just outside the groundhog burrow and set up guide logs at either side of the path to guide the groundhog into the trap. It would be best if you concealed the trap with grass so as not to raise suspicion. Procure quality groundhog bait in your local store, something that they cannot resist. This will help increase the chances of trapping them. Once you trap a groundhog, finding a suitable relocation area is the next thing to do. Relocating groundhogs is illegal in some states, but relocating the animal is a good method in general. It would be best to involve wildlife removal experts to help you deal with the situation.

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