Groundhogs :: Terrier Technologies LLC

Identification

Groundhogs or woodchucks are the largest member of the family that contains squirrels (Sciuridae). They are recognizable by their compact, chunky bodies and strong, short legs. Their primary body color is grizzled brownish gray. The tail is short and furry, and dark brown in color. The groundhog/woodchuck’s forefeet are characterized by long, curved claws for digging. Adult woodchucks weigh between 5 and 10 pounds, and average 16 to 20 inches in length.

Feeding period: Throughout the day, but mostly in early morning and late afternoon

Woodchucks are primarily vegetarians and feed on a variety of vegetables, grasses and legumes. Some preferred foods are beans, peas, carrot tops, alfalfa, clover and grasses. In cities, suburbs and rural areas, they can do serious damage to vegetable gardens.

Groundhogs are one of the more common nuisance wildlife animals that customers request service for. Groundhogs will create burrows around foundations, sheds, decks, porches and other outbuildings. They will also create burrows in open yards/fields. These burrows can do damage to structures and cause a safety issue for people and animals (especially horses). Groundhogs will also feed in gardens, so customers may request removal because of the damage to their plants.

Remember to use the information provided by the customer as a starting point for inspection. This may come from direct communication with the customer or the notes from client service detailed in the work order/proposal. The customer may often report regularly seeing a groundhog on the property.

On initial inspection start by looking for burrows. Most common areas for burrows are around foundations, decks, sheds, porches, sunrooms or any other structure that they can get under. Look around the edges of fields and hedgerows. Holes will typically be between 8-12 inches in size.

Groundhogs may also wear out the the grass in areas where they are traveling, so look out for trails. While not common, there may be groundhog droppings left around trails.

Groundhog Burrow in Yard

Groundhog Burrow Under Deck

Groundhog Droppings

Trapping is the most common method of controlling groundhogs. Live traps, positive control traps or lethal traps may be used.

Baits commonly used include apples, cantaloupe or professional baits( On-Target Chuckster, Jameson’s Peaches and Cream, Jameson’s F1/F2, WCS TreeBerry and Blackie’s Whistlestop).

Any time excluding them from underneath a structure is possible, provide a proposal for exclusion service. The most common exclusion for groundhogs is a buried wire.

Always make sure to talk to your supervisor and check state regulations before setting lethal traps to determine if they are required to be covered in order to prevent other animals from being caught. This will be determined by jaw size. Every state has different laws.

When inspecting burrows, the presence of flies is a good indicator that it is active.

Groundhogs may chew wood on decks and other wooden structures. This can be prevented by wrapping coil stock a minimum of 3 feet high or using a cayenne based repellant.

The use of traps that previously held another groundhog will increase the catch rate due to scent left behind.

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