How to Keep Groundhogs Out of a Vegetable Garden

Groundhogs are related to squirrels.

Groundhogs, also called woodchucks, are large rodents that live in burrows underground. They live in the northeastern United States, in Canada, and as far northwest as eastern Alaska. In the wild, they eat grasses and flowers, such as alfalfa and clover. In more populated areas, however, they may burrow near vegetable gardens and help themselves to your harvest. Their burrows can also be dangerous to humans, animals and farm equipment or wheeled vehicles that fall into or trip over the holes. It's important to keep groundhogs away from your garden before the damage is done.

Things You'll Need

• Heavy poultry wire fence
• Live traps
• Fruit and vegetables for bait
• Thick gloves

Instructions

1. Locate the groundhogs' burrows. There are usually two entrances: a larger one, near a mound of dug-out earth, and a smaller one concealed by vegetation. Knowing where the groundhog burrows are will help you avoid the burrows and trap the groundhogs.

2. Install a fence around your garden. The fence must be at least 3 feet high and bent out at a 45-degree angle at the top to prevent climbing, and it must be buried at least 1 foot underground to prevent burrowing. The fence should be made of heavy poultry wire, which is strong enough to withstand groundhogs.

3. Contact your state's wildlife control center or Department of Natural Resources for information on removing trapped groundhogs. Depending on your state, you may need a permit to trap and remove groundhogs, and your state may have laws stating you have to remove the groundhog within a certain time period after you've trapped it. You can also get advice on where to release captured groundhogs.

4. Set out live traps designed for groundhogs and similarly sized wild animals, which you can find at stores that sell pest control supplies. Bait the traps with fruits and vegetables, such as lettuce or slices of apple, and change the bait each day. Place the traps near the entrances to the burrows or along the groundhogs' routes from the burrows to your garden.

5. Check the traps once a day. Bring the groundhogs to a veterinarian or animal control center to be euthanized, or release them in a safe, legal place. Wear thick gloves when handling traps that contain animals. If you don't think you'll be able to handle a full trap, contact a wildlife organization or animal control office in your city or county.

Tips & Warnings

• Depending on the laws in your state, you may also be allowed to shoot the groundhogs or fumigate their burrows with carbon dioxide gas. Fumigation can be dangerous, however, and you may accidentally fumigate the burrow while the groundhogs are away or kill harmless creatures that have moved into an empty groundhog burrow. If you cannot keep groundhogs out of your garden using fencing and traps, you should consult a professional wildlife control operator.

• Do not release groundhogs in public parks or nature reserves, or onto other people's land without their written permission.

References

• University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension; June Animal: Groundhog; Dennis Ferraro
• University of Illinois Extension: Woodchuck or "Ground Hog" (Marmota Monax)
• Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management; Woodchucks and Their Control; Rene M. Bollengier, Jr.