Last week, I got a question from a reader about a couple of groundhogs that reside in his garage and include his garden items in their diet without paying for their meals or leaving any tip.
These rodents, called groundhogs, have a scientific name, Marmota monax. Groundhogs can tear up any garage floor.
So, what do you do?
One of the characteristics of this rodent is that it must have a way to sharpen its teeth, which grow as much as 1/16 “per week. This means that they need a way to sharpen them.
As you may guess, they are well adapted to digging, and their bodies are closer to that of a mole with its curved spine, curved limbs, and thick claws. One of the unusual characteristics is that they have two coats of fur, a denser inner layer of fur, and a lighter band of guard hair that gives it a frosted appearance.
I know that groundhogs can cause serious damage to the fields by digging holes. Farmers are in constant danger of damaging their equipment by hitting groundhog burrows. A tractor can find these holes and lose an axle or get some steering damage.
Wolves, cougars, coyotes, foxes, bobcats, bears, eagles, dogs, and men are the groundhog’s predators. So, if you were to have a large dog, get rid of your groundhogs.
Harvest your vegetables as early as possible, and you will eliminate vegetables from their diet and make your yard less desirable to them. Keep your yard well-cleaned by removing debris and piles of rocks to make the rodents feel more exposed.
Trimming back overgrown foliage will also make the groundhogs feel less welcome.
Removing tree trunks from your yard will not give your groundhog a chance to sharpen its teeth.
One effort I remember is that I filled in groundhog holes with lots of stones, rocks, and gravel, making it hard for the groundhog to dig. Lettuce leaves and fruit like apples as bait can make traps more effective when placed far from the burrow.
I have recommended the Scarecrow Sprinkler for over 20 years. Clients of mine from Lake Erie to Mansfield to Kent who have followed my advice have had a good experience.
This motion-activated sprinkler is both humane and a natural way to eliminate groundhogs quickly. The sensor detects motion and turns on a spray of water that causes the groundhog to flee.
Here is another technique. Pour a sudsy ammonia down the hole and repeat the process daily, until they leave. The recipe is two tablespoons of detergent to two cups of ammonia.
One treatment will evict the groundhog. But for the persistent groundhog, repeat if he remains. To protect your garden and eliminate groundhogs, sprinkle Epsom salt around the perimeter of your garden and near the groundhog burrows.
If you fill the hole with water and make mud, they will also get the hint and leave. Just continue the process if they don’t get the idea right away.
Groundhogs, also known as woodchucks, are not fans of garlic or hot peppers, and if you crush the cloves and spread the paste on the burrows or spray a hot pepper and soap mix on the burrows, they will get upset and leave.
To effectively deter groundhogs from your garden, consider planting a trap crop outside of it that appeals to the groundhog.
Additionally, I recommend installing a partially buried wire fence around your garden and applying talcum powder around its perimeter. Human hair in your garden can irritate groundhogs and drive them away.
If you would like a list of natural repellents, send me an email.
Exclusion materials like floating row covers and fences can keep groundhogs and other animals out of your garden. Specifically, groundhogs won’t dig more than 12 inches deep.
If you bend the top foot of the fence unsupported by the posts, that will act as a deterrent for groundhogs to climb your fence. Measure out three to four feet of the wire mesh fence to manage the groundhogs well.
Raised beds can be an alternative to exclude groundhogs.
Groundhogs have been pests for many of us. There are new solutions to this perennial problem that may be just the answer for which you are waiting.
I hope you have a good stroll in your garden. If you have any questions, email me at ericlarson546@yahoo.com.
Appreciate this reporting? Help us do more
Every donation, big or small, helps our reporters tell the stories that connect our community.
Thank you for your generosity! Please note that a one-time or recurring donation is separate from Source Membership, which provides additional benefits and ongoing support for our work.
How is my donation tax-deductible?
We have a fiscal sponsorship with The GroundTruth Project, allowing our readers to support our work and benefit from a tax deduction at the same time.