I found your website, and went over to their house this morning to set up your trapping method. He couldn’t resist, and “SLAM!” BTW, it’s not so much a problem with the groundhogs, but, for the biggest raccoons, I had to buy the largest size of Havaheart. These rodents are herbivores, which means they eat vegetation. Well we did all of that last night and sure enough, we have a groundhog in there this morning! I would like to release him back into the wild but he is really pissing me off. Bob, that’s a good one. does the trap go at the exit or entrace site? Whether you have groundhogs (a.k.a. I would rather just dispatch,but I understand for some relocation is the prefered choice.Mark them and see if they come home. Groundhogs will eat anything with sugar, I like using splenda because It does not attract ants. I have now had a groundhog in my engine compartment twice this spring. Thanks! My mother-in-law is in town and staying at my house called me and told me. The smell is what keeps it off the list of groundhogs' favorite foods, although they do occasionally eat them. Joel, are they breaking and spreading the welds apart, biting through the wire itself or what? I only wished I had used the trap a long time ago before my garden was ravaged. Their burrow systems can be extensive, and they multiply quickly, leaving more groundhogs to make more holes and eat more of your lettuce. But we keep finding squirrels in the trap. I can’t say I’ve missed that critter running across my front steps and sitting out on my lawn all relaxed as though HE were paying the mortgage! There is a city-owned nature preserve which is at least ten or twelve miles from where we live. Thank you, Kenny!!! (take matters in my own hands) I will let you know how I make out once I get the trap on Monday. If you do not take real actions against them quickly, your pets stand the risk of losing a limb or two due to the many holes they usually create in the yard. Poor thing died in a couple of mins after being injected. I filled in the two holes he left and am hoping that he does not have anymore family that I will need to trap. I smeared it all over the entrance to the trap and along the low retaining wall leading to the trap. How to Get Rid of Groundhogs in Yard With Human Hair & Car Litter. A large number of local governments which have animal control facilities will accept them for euthanasia. Groundhogs are omnivores, with the majority of the diet being plant matter.Common foods are: 1. While Groundhogs prefer green vegetation, roots and barks form an important part of their diet as well. Charles, where are you with groundhogs awake at this time of the year? All one requirements is to start a conversation and begin interacting. Thank you for the awesome advice. I live in the city limits of a a mid-sized town. What groundhog is going to refuse being served breakfast in bed? Will it even try to enter a trap again? Hi Francesca, if you can’t locate the burrow or the trails that the groundhog is using then you can try trapping him where you see the most activity or damage to your garden. Fruit. I have a handy nature preserve around 12-15 miles distant and that’s where mine now go. They usually don’t wander too far from their burrows when foraging for food and at the first sign of danger they will quickly dash to the safety and cover of their hideout’s hole. 2. LOL! I set a hav-a-hart live trap w/ two open ends and baited it w/ cantaloupe, peanut butter, and various fruits w/ no success. Is there someplace that they can be taken after being traped, what is the best thing to do. So far I have caught 6 possums, 4 groundhogs, and 1 raccoon, but there is still at least 1 large groundhog that refuses to be trapped, I have tried a variety of baits. The coon had chewed the wire clips at the other end, and I tied it back up with nylon ties, some of those were chewed by the coon today. There’s all kinds of brush in the vacant houses’ back yards behind mine and my neighbor piles his grass clippings and evergreen bush clippings behind his garage! Most dogs won’t eat a banana and the only other critters that do are skunk, opossum, and raccoon so you’re taking a minimal chance of hurting something you don’t want to. When it comes to dinner groundhogs really aren’t choosy, they’ll eat just about anything. Why relocate them? When I hosed the holes many times, I may have sent them on their way whatever because I haven’t seen on since but I still keep checking for holes. I finally caught that very large groundhog, I picked the trap up, and it was moving back and forth, plus the weight of the groundhog, it came right through the closed end of the trap. If you’re sure you have the same one back, then they played a dirty trick on you and just let him out nearby. As I went to lift the trap which had shrubs on both sides, the daughter lab charged the cage when I said out loud, this feels heavier than a bunny or as I bent over to see from the side what it was — WHAM dog and Joanne got sprayed by the first skunk in 16 years right in the face. Havahart should make the locking bar out of stronger stuff than soft wire. . Woodchucks are well adapted for digging, and live and hibernate in burrows, which typically have a main entrance … Today I check the trap and I must of had the big one. I had no luck putting it in front of my neighbor shed where the groundhog went in. I let some of mine live because they are far from the house and buildings and they aren’t damaging anything as they live in the hedgerow of the property. Help! I had the hog in a day! Sounds like you have the option of really open territory to drop him in. To my surprise the last person I spoke to with a custodian wildlife credentials said that I was cruel and if I looking for sympathy I would not on get from get her. We’ve been having problems with groundhogs tearing up our garden lately. Thanks. 2. I have friends from West Africa who think it’s a shame to “waste good food” trapped groundhogs, raccoons, and possums. In the past I’ve successfully baited woodchuck traps with everything from cut apples, to watermelon rinds and fresh organic carrots. Pink, red, white, and yellow are the most common flower colors. I have checked everywhere and no one seems to address this. Hide the trap with vegetation. I have tried putting the trap right up against the fence, the groundhog will not come near it. After 3 days of the groundhogs frolicking around the cage, I had no success so I searched the web. My son said you don’t see coons during the day but groundhogs will romp all over the yard. recipient? While they’re mostly herbivores, they can eat grubs, snails, insects, and grasshoppers too. I didn’t know if the rascal was in or not but most likely not but the next day, he walked past my front door sidewalk and I said to him/her, “I thought you left town.” I followed him and encouraged him to cross the street and not come back which he hasn’t. I’ll destroy the one entrance tomorrow while I search for the other hole. The secret to trapping a groundhog quick, fast, and in a hurry is to take the trap to him and place it right outside of the animal’s den. Will look around online for strong traps..any suggestions from anyone will be a great help..Merry Christmas & happy Holidays to all!!! My wife and I successfully caught and released a groundhog this past weekend. they are finicky animals. Bury it, you say? I will keep the trap out to catch other groundhogs, raccoons, and possums. The first day the intelligent animal came in and ate the apples before the trap and did not go any further. She said that the person who released the animal was right in doing so and I was cruel. Been doing this for at least a month or so… Any help would be great! To eliminate dogs all together you could put the bomb in a small trap that would only fit a gopher. I shored up the back door on my trap with some wire, and have caught 2 ground hogs so far… Hav-a-hart also offered to send me a “non-collapsible” trap which does not have the lock-bar problem… I have to give them points for offering to help! Now I put cantelope in there and my fingers are crossed, but I have to do this 6 times! Yup,another groundhog. If you know where he is entering the garden or where his den is located, set the trap right there and place some type of barricade along the sides to coax him into the trap. I trapped the groundhog in a havahart trap, but while walking to the truck, it broke out of the trap. Their diet consists of plants, flowers, and garden vegetables. I’ve had success with sliced apples and carrots. Very soon the apples began to rot but I thought oh well, we’ll see what happens. Neighbor has one and if it comes into my yard I will dispatch it quickly before it damages my gardens. The need to relocate him occurred when we saw him climb over our 2′ garden fence last summer. All I can smell is skunk, it’s still embedded in my nostrils!” So—fair warning and that was with an empty trap! The hog was never seen again and the damage stopped. We have to get rid of them, but we didn’t way to kill them. She thinks she is much larger than what she is, as a lot of Terriers do. I don’t like to dump them near anyone’s house. So, Bill Murray has NOTHING on meeeeeeeeeeee. They dig their burrows close to farms, gardens and orchards, so a… and will it attack me as i do so? Thanks for the info Kenny! Utility workers have difficulty finding enough dirt to drive a grounding rod up here. Can’t really go super inpecting neighbors property. I have trapped them for years. I took a hose and for 15 minutes set it in the hole and blocked out the exit. That’s how they’re getting out. Walter, He had several entrances from the shed to the garden. Today I checked and saw the trap down. Smush the banana back together and wash your hands. I have had one “mystery” escape when the animal (coon) managed to turn the trap upside down…. What I need to know is when I take him for a ride, how far do I have to take him, so that he doesn’t come back? I guess he only had one way in/out and I was blocking it. We’ve caught them with every bait mentioned in this thread. They do feed on nuts, but they don’t store them like their cousins, the squirrels, do. Some of the most successful vegetables that can be used as groundhog bait include peas, lettuce sweetcorn and string beans, while fruits such as cantaloupe, strawberries and beaches are also popular. Arghh… Here, they take them off to the animal shelter to kill them…. I’ve turned them over to Animal Control for euthanasia. You have to consider the new terrain. The one I have has a locking bar which is at least 3/16 galvanized rod and I don’t see how it could be bent from the inside, and I’ve trapped some big ones. I have mine placed in front of a hole that the groundhog dug under the chainlink fence.The groundhogs must smell the path created and use the same one.Their odor(musk) is very strong.I was covering the trap with grasses/weeds to make it like a tunnel so give that a try too. I’ve also trapped eighteen raccoons. Cantaloupe has worked for me when nothing else has. You are very welcome Dakota. Trapping works, and I am a believer today,I have no carcass to worry about removing, just relocating the rascal. Today is Tuesday, and BOOM groundhog was caught, and my Dad brought it out 30 minutes into the suburbs – and is now the neighborhood hero!!! Please help. Think we have everything gone now! So, I have not tried this yet, but was wondering if there is a distance that i should be dropping the critters off from my home, as well as; is it allowed to randomly deposit wild animals in parks? This Groundhog is much larger than our Yorkie and she will not back down from anything. To my surprise the last person I spoke to was a wildlife custodian and she said that I was cruel and if I was looking for sympathy, I would not get from her. Got the last one with some watermelon. For trapping groundhogs I prefer this closed end style of a trap. I put a live trap out by the deck where he’s been coming in and out and stocked it with yummy apple quarters. Otherwise his yard is immaculate. Havahart recommends sullying a new trap to divest it of its gleam and smell. Think Ill try carrots. How to I get rid of this thing before he chews up the wiring in my engine??? There have been some really big GHs in there spending all day long trying to get out. Lisa, depending on the AC’s definition of “several,” you may very well hae the same animal back. I... Garden Mama: I am a relatively new gardener (with 2 little kids who got excited to plant a beautiful veggie garden... rb: Well this year has started off with a bang. One point which is a bit depressing, but I need to mention – once you have a tunnel system established on your property, you become very attractive to other groundhogs, when they’re roaming to find territory. Featuring Vegetable Gardening Tips, Organic Growing Techniques, and Unique Plants for the Backyard Gardener. If release is all you can handle, I’d remember these points – not on private property (without permission from the landowner, which will not be forthcoming, since no one really wants them). I tied it up with rope securely and set it back in the same place. 5. After reading this about a month ago and finally listening to what I read… two opossums later I finally caught my groundhog this morning. I have a trap, but where do I put it??? Then slice down long ways leaving the peel on and connected on the back side. “What smell? He was kind enough to leave the peppers, onions, rhubard and tomatoes. It’s very likely the same thing that happened to you. Wendy, I’ve had pretty good luck sealing them up with PLENTY of Quikcrete. Of course, for the coons, we used cat food, which wouldn’t attract squirrels, but the cantaloupe we’ve had the most groundhog luck with hasn’t attracted squirrels. You do not have to kill groundhogs to get rid of them. I’ve done that with raccoons and opossums. Any advice on this, or should we just let time take care of his lifespan and leave our worries behind. The mow is about half full of old straw and there are about twelve den holes facing in all directions. How to Trap Groundhogs . I know this is a really old post. He is under my shed. When do they go into hibernation? I hope to share the incredible lessons learned and make things a lot easier for you out in the organic vegetable garden. This model is easier to set and not as sensitive to accidental triggering, but requires a little more care and effort to release the trapped animal. When I would check my garden daily, he would run back into his den as if to mock me. I am going to try to find a HavaHart trap today on my lunch break. Every other house is vacant. Running for the hose, dh sees me as he’s at the kitchen sink getting a glass of water, runs out the door and sees what is going on. Any ideas? I’ve set my trap many times with diff. They’re going in, tripping the trigger, then flipping out. Patience is the key here! Thanks, For 12 years I have been struggling with a groundhog or many of them. Set the trap up by our shed (where the groundhog took up residence last spring), in an area where I knew he feeds. I re-inforced the trap and reset it… but I fear he may be spooked of the trap now…. I trapped the one and got rid of it with fresh cut apples in a have a heart trap. I like to use carrots as groundhog bait because they will remain fresher over a long period of time, but the quartered apples may be a little more enticing to groundhogs. One down and one to go. Setting up this trap in the correct area is … Was it a HavaHart? An animal would have to be strong enough to destroy the wire. Eggs. I also cut som branches off our cedar tree and covered the trap so it wouldn’t show at all. For days, nothing did. I have a pretty good idea where the entrance to his den is so I will try your method. Not every place has deep topsoil. Installing a fence in your yard is a great way to … Many people will use these things to trap them. I dont think the holes are connected but was wondering if you have any ideas on what I can fill the holes with to prevent the animal from coming back. How To Kill Groundhogs - These rodents are often quite cute, and many people who don't have a yard or garden will simply view them as attractive animals that aren't really worth worrying about, but once you have a groundhog in your yard or garden this can be a very different story. love your advice! Scatter some vegetables like lettuce, carrots and celery inside the trap. Couldn’t believe my eyes! Please help! Good luck! The whole question of release is complex. one car was totaled, exposed wires caused a fire. I think there may be one more so I’ve set it again. I bought a Havahart trap and sat it out on Wednesday right in my flowerbed, baited it with bananas and left both doors open. Before the previous incident I was on my hands and knees weeding, when I looked up and see a groundpig looking me straight in the eye from the top of the fence munching on mulberry leaves. Bark/small branches.Occasionally they will eat: 1. bait. One trick I’ve used in the past is to place the bait in an empty cat food can and then wired the can in one of the back corners, and this has caught a few who were skilled “burglars.” I know you say your trigger is sensitive, but my trap is quite old and the plating has worn off where it curves up. By setting this trap in the correct manner between the woodchuck's den and your vegetable garden you will be able to trap them without using bait. You can also create a bait trail leading up to … I bought my own trap since and dealt with it myself. I closed the hole and try to fix the interlock bricks, but did not succeed. I absolutely do not want to euthanize, just relocate him away from my home (and others’ homes) so he can live a healthy, happy life away from people. hi We caught at least 2 animals a day using this method. I wish I could figure a way to groundhog proof the floors. They aren’t deep woods creatures. I really don’t how I am going to get this animal. I was telling an elderly farmer a funny story about trying to get a mad hog out of the trap. . 4. Groundhogs mostly eat wild grasses and vegetation in forests and woodlands. Enjoy your Sunday. That is the best way to get rid of them. It seems as though they’ve gotten in and escaped except that the trap has moved and the grass around has been torn up. I was reading that the lifespan of a groundhog would most likely be about 6 years. Hi Mike, I have never worried about masking scents with groundhogs and they still go right into the traps. I have trapped a opossum on an apple. Caught one this morning. How long should I wait (if I should) before I reset a trap? I stay close by for half an hour or so (early in the morning) and wait for the clink of the trap. Food for Groundhogs Groundhog will eat wild grasses, berries and agricultural crops. Hire a professional trapper, force water through all of the entrances; use synthetic animal urine to get them to abandon their home or place used cat litter around the holes for the same effect. I could not kill animals, even if they are a nuisance as this. I’ve used a number of different styles of Havahart traps and have never had a trapped animal even come close to escaping before I released it. I also lay a trail of pieces of fruit leading to the trap…, thanks you for your suggestions we tried lettuce tomatoes and finally the carrots did the trick we had to seal off all of the other holes and outlets and putting the trap right at the main hole made the difference …… Anyone have suggestions for bait to attract groundhogs and rabbits, but not squirrels? We’ve gone 2-3 years without them, and, then, an immature one will pop up, as has just happened to us…, Hi – I caught the bloody b*****ard a few mins ago and was all rejoicing when I suddenly saw that the trap was empty. Most neighbors are cool, but the one to my direct north is lazy and his lawn gets mowed maybe twice a year. I had two ground hogs that used a huge bush in my backyard to get close to my bird feeder pole and then they would feed on the bird seed that the blue jays liked to flip out of the several feeder trays to land on the soil below. I think it was the carrots that got him! Bought the hav a hart electric fence, didn’t work. So far I have not caught him or her. The couple who released the animal was right, what I did was cruel and I asked, how could I remove this animal from my destroyed property. I live on a mountain top, so, essentially, that is a big monolith covered with boulders and only a thin skein of soil. They have asked me to bring them any of these I catch in my Havahart trap. How do you get it out of the trap without getting sprayed? In one week, we caught the following: 3 adult groundhogs, 6 baby groundhogs, and 2 raccoons. I would be most grateful for your help. Hum…wonder where it went. How did you successfully remove them from your barn? Was out in the yard the other day(afternoon) and what do I see roaming my far back yard? Just poison them or shoot them. I added grass and leaves to the bottom of the cage. Thanks for your website and great advice. The barrier doesn’t have to be tall or sturdy, just sufficient to create a path of least resistance toward the trap. In our town, Animal Control staff come out and help homeowners set the trap. BTW, the larger trap is available from Northern Tool and Amazon, price both places at about $90…, Thank you so much! I have a very hungry woodchuck. 5. Kind of like an f-you for messing with them. Groundhogs are active during the daylight hours and spend their nights sleeping underground in their burrows. Catch and release. However, realistically, that creates a disposal problem for a lot of people. Sure you can set the trap right in the garden or where you observe the animal feeding but that could still take days or weeks to coax him into the trap. I think unless you can relocate them to an area where no one else lives close, they should be exterminated. I am not sure what type of cage it was. Install a Fence. I ordered the largest H-a-H, and that stopped. Any ideas?? This is in Youngstown, Ohio. If I can find it again, I’ll post an amendment…. She can try that, but it’ll probably just dig around it. Oddly enough, global warming might help us, as extreme north Alabama is the southern fringe of their natural range. I’ve noticed exactly the same, Steve. He ate his way along and stopped when he got to the trap. Only have a bb gun and that’s less humane than a hammer. I was so happy that I now had the upper hand and I told that little rascal as much. Gurrr! also-what do you use to repair the big holes they’ve made? I’ve got some interesting ideas, thanks. How about bubble gum? I even caught one by hand once. What strong teeth! Rabbits and deer eat some of the same plants, so make sure to check for burrows before concluding that you have groundhogs. I live in a very wooded area. I have tried sliced apples in my trap but I live on a farm and there is a couple spots near the barn with spilt corn piles. This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. I started to be flippant and say “farther than you think.” It does really have to be several miles, or they will home back in. You are welcome Karen, thanks for visiting the site and I’m glad that I could help you trap and relocate those groundhogs. Belle, I would contact Havahart and explain what happened to them because there is no way the trap should malfunction like that or that you should have to wire it shut to keep it from opening in that situation.