My theory that the early gardener gets the groundhog has paid off — look what was in the live trap this morning! Hello Mr. Groundhog! This healthy specimen was released where he won’t bother anyone.
Groundhog Problems
For the past couple years there has been somewhat of a groundhog problem at Meadowwood (Meadowwood is the entire property, Meadowwood Garden is just the vegetable garden…). One or more families have taken up residence in the woods next to the house. There are several holes under the shed there, and just last week I found a large colony of holes further down the treeline.
Two years ago one enterprising fellow even dug a hole under the back deck directly at the back door! And late last year another hole appeared under the front porch. Basically these little furry creatures are getting a little too close for comfort!
I’ve been asked why I don’t just let the little critters live wherever they want. A couple reasons come to mind: property damage and disease. A good example of the former is the hole I found under the front porch. As rain enters this hole it will erode the den and eventually could lead to a collapse of my entire front porch! Same with the holes under the shed.
As for disease, I’m mostly concerned about rabies or diseases Zoe can contract from feces, such as heartworms. Last year a groundhog ran straight at me! A couple that I’ve trapped were mangy and looked very unhealthy, so one never knows what they could be a carrier for.
The Plan this Year
One of the problems with groundhogs is where there are one, there are many! They are very fertile and have large litters. Once the babies grow up they tend to move to an area close by and dig their own burrows. This leads to more damage, etc.
Over the past two years I have trapped about 15 groundhogs total (and about as many raccoons — which are another story!). In spite of my efforts they keep getting closer and closer to the house — and that is simply not an acceptable place for them to be. So this year I decided to trap early, and trap often. My idea is to trap as many as possible just as they wake up from winter hibernation and before they have a chance to breed.
How to Trap Groundhogs
This has turned out to be the easy part. I purchased a live trap a couple years ago — they are made of wire and are easy to set up (you can see it in the photo above). Turns out groundhogs like apples, so for bait I buy old apples from the grocery store. Cut the apple in half, place it in the trap, put the trap next to a hole and usually the next morning you will have something in it.
As the season wears on they seem to become wary of the traps. When that happens I stop placing them for a week or so and often as soon as I start up again I will get one or two.
At some point I want to write-up a more extensive post about how to control these furry fellows. Until then I will keep everyone updated as to my eradication efforts!
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Groundhogs are not much of a nuisance here, but from reading the 64 dollar tomato they sure are in the NE of the US. They also appear to like tomatoes.
Good luck with your humane trap and release program.
If they weren’t right at my house I wouldn’t worry about them — they are kinda fun to watch if you happen to catch one who doesn’t see you first. Wait till you read my next update about this today — it is raining groundhogs and raccoons here!
I think the best way is to build a fence and place it about a foot underground too… good luck trapping them! Also found some other good groundhog deterrent info here: http://www.lawnmowerforum.com/threads/230-Groundhog-Problems
Thanks for the info Robert! The garden is fenced in nice and snug (so far). I’m toying with the idea of some sort of barrier around the deck but they all have to be out from under it first.
Trapping and relocating is working — 7 groundhogs so far and counting!