Groundhog Removal & Control
Humane solutions for groundhog problems on your property
About Groundhogs
Groundhogs (Marmota monax), also known as woodchucks, are large burrowing rodents common throughout the eastern and midwestern United States. These members of the squirrel family are excellent diggers that create extensive burrow systems that can cause significant problems for property owners.
Size & Weight
Adults typically weigh 7-14 pounds and measure 16-26 inches in length, making them one of the largest members of the squirrel family.
Behavior
Primarily active during daylight hours, especially in early morning and late afternoon. They hibernate during winter months in our northern service areas.
Diet
Herbivorous, feeding on grasses, clover, fruits, vegetables, and agricultural crops. They can consume up to 1-1.5 pounds of vegetation daily during peak feeding periods.
Burrowing
Create extensive burrow systems with multiple entrances/exits, measuring 8-12 inches in diameter and extending 5-30 feet in length, with chambers for nesting and food storage.
Problems Caused by Groundhogs
Structural Damage
- Burrows can undermine foundations, decks, sheds, and sidewalks
- Creating voids that lead to settling and cracking of concrete
- Potential damage to underground utility lines and irrigation systems
- Collapse hazards from abandoned burrows
Landscape & Garden Damage
- Extensive feeding damage to vegetable gardens and ornamental plants
- Large, visible burrow mounds that damage lawns and create tripping hazards
- Root damage to trees and shrubs from burrowing activity
- Destruction of agricultural crops in rural properties
Safety & Health Issues
- Tripping hazards from burrow entrances and mounds
- Injury risk to humans, pets, and livestock from stepping in holes
- Potential carriers of fleas, ticks, and other parasites
- Aggressive defense behavior when cornered or threatened
Our Groundhog Removal Process
We use effective, humane methods to safely remove groundhogs from your property and prevent their return.
Inspection
Comprehensive property assessment to identify active burrows, travel routes, feeding areas, and damage extent.
Trapping
Strategic placement of professional-grade live traps with appropriate bait based on seasonal preferences.
Relocation
Humane transport and release of captured groundhogs to suitable habitat areas in accordance with state regulations.
Exclusion
Installation of barriers and implementation of habitat modifications to prevent reestablishment.
Important: During spring and early summer, we check for the presence of young in burrows. If young groundhogs are present, we ensure the entire family is removed together to avoid orphaning dependent offspring.
Preventing Future Groundhog Problems
After removing groundhogs, we implement these effective preventative measures:
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Burrow Remediation
Properly collapsing and filling abandoned burrows to prevent reuse by new groundhogs or other wildlife species.
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Exclusion Fencing
Installing specialized fencing around gardens, decks, and structures. Effective groundhog barriers extend at least 2 feet above ground and 1 foot below ground with an outward-facing L-shaped bend.
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Habitat Modification
Reducing attractive cover by clearing brush piles, woodpiles, and overgrown areas near structures. Groundhogs prefer areas with abundant cover adjacent to open feeding areas.
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Foundational Protection
Installing L-shaped wire mesh barriers around foundations, decks, sheds, and other vulnerable structures to prevent burrowing access.
Groundhog Removal FAQs
Look for large burrow entrances (8-12 inches in diameter) with mounds of excavated soil nearby, extensive damage to garden plants or crops, sightings of large, brownish rodents during daylight hours, and worn paths between burrow entrances and feeding areas. Multiple burrow entrances within a concentrated area often indicate groundhog activity.
Early spring (March-April) is ideal for groundhog removal, shortly after they emerge from hibernation and before they reproduce. Late fall can also be effective as they prepare for hibernation. We adjust our approach based on seasonal behaviors but can provide effective removal year-round in most of our service areas.
Yes, groundhog burrows can potentially damage foundations. Their extensive tunneling can create voids beneath concrete slabs, footings, and foundations, which may lead to settling, cracking, or other structural issues. This is particularly concerning in areas with expansive or unstable soils.
Most commercial repellents and home remedies provide limited and temporary results at best. For established groundhog problems, professional removal combined with exclusion barriers and habitat modification offers the most effective and lasting solution. After removal, we can recommend certain deterrents as part of a comprehensive prevention strategy.
Dealing with Groundhog Problems?
Our wildlife experts are ready to provide a humane, effective solution with our 10-year guarantee.
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