Unlike some animals that may simply knock over your garbage cans or munch on your garden, groundhogs can cause serious damage to your backyard. Also called woodchucks or whistle-pigs, these burrowing rodents dig extensive burrows that can cause permanent harm to your yard or home.
For homeowners, knowing how to identify a groundhog is important, and from there, safely removing the animal requires a bit of know-how. Here's what you need to know about getting rid of groundhogs.
Spotting a groundhog
According to National Geographic, these large rodents can grow to almost 13 pounds in weight. Members of the marmot family, groundhogs are closely related to squirrels. However, instead of hibernating high in the trees, groundhogs build deep tunnels to avoid predators and to also survive the cold winter. These animals are found throughout most of the eastern U.S. and southern Canada.
A single groundhog can build a rather extensive network of tunnels, including individual chambers for using the bathroom. As such, one of the first signs that a groundhog has moved into your yard is unearthed soil or dirt. These creatures may use the side of a home, porch or even tree as the entrance to a burrow, and catching a groundhog before it can begin to build its tunnels is important for avoiding serious damage.
Havahart reported that along with a physical burrow, groundhogs may leave behind other signals for homeowners to look out for. For example, there may be deep holes in your lawn, or damage to backyard crops or veggies. Even simple tracks may be useful for spotting a groundhog. Unfortunately, many folks may not realize their yard has been invaded by one of these borrowing rodents until there is already damage. This can include a weakened foundation, as well as chewed wires or tubing.
Removing any animals
Once you have identified a groundhog burrow, your first instinct may be to simply fill it in with soil. Even if the animal is inside, this is usually ineffective, and the groundhog will simply dig itself out. Similarly, if you destroy the tunnels when the groundhog is out foraging, it will likely begin a new burrow.
Your best bet is to trap your groundhog and release the animal far away from your home. These creatures can be surprisingly defensive, and have massive front teeth that can deliver a very nasty bite. For that reason, using a cage trap is better than removing the groundhog by hand. Mother Earth News suggested placing a few tasty treats inside of a large trap and placing it near the entrance of a burrow. If the groundhog has an extensive network of tunnels and multiple ground-level openings, use a plank of wood to ensure the animal comes in and out near your trap. If you have difficulty luring your groundhog, consider calling in a professional pest service.
Preventing a groundhog from returning entails dropping it off away from your property at a local park or green space. Check with local officials for rules and regulations related to the release of a wild animal. Otherwise, your next step is to prevent any groundhogs or other burrowing animals from damaging your home in the future.
Because groundhogs can move hundreds of pounds of dirt, keeping these critters out is a worthy investment. Installing chicken wire or other fencing around a porch, shed or garage is a way to keep groundhogs from becoming a problem in the first place. Be sure to install any exclusion tools deep into the earth so that any groundhog can't get underneath.
You probably already know that most people are repulsed by the simple sight of cockroaches. If you are personally dealing with a cockroach infestation, the feelings of disgust are probably even more intense. Unfortunately, the cold winter weather tends to be one of the reasons this pest ends up in your home in the first place, according to Any Pest. While you may know that you don't want to share your home with cockroaches this winter, there are a number of interesting facts about this pest that you've probably never heard.
Because of the high amount of traffic and the versatility of the facilities, pests are naturally attracted to long-term care institutions. Many nursing homes, rehabilitation centers and other care facilities include on-site kitchens and cafeterias as well as private rooms and common spaces. All of these places are susceptible to attracting pests because of the presence of food, water and viable habitats.
During the summer months, some people love to go camping with family and friends. Yet this fun trip can be ruined with a few unwanted visitors, most notably different types of bugs. Crawling spiders, hungry mosquitoes and buzzing flies can become annoying quickly. How can you avoid these pests when you're outdoors? Consider these tips to keep bugs out of your campsite.
Carpenter ants can chew through the strongest studs and stringers in a house as they hollow the wooden beams out for nesting. The resulting damage can weaken the home's structural support and require expensive repairs. Professional pest control workers can remove a colony of ants, but the best practice for homeowners is to learn the best ways to keep out an ant colony and prevent the problem before it begins.
As the weather cools, you'll probably see fewer pests than you did during the warmer months, but that doesn't mean they're all gone just yet. Some insects can actually come out in full force during the autumn, while others might seek refuge in your warm home. Here are some key tips to keep in mind as fall gets underway:
As the middle of summer approaches, you need to be vigilant about keeping your garden free of pests. Many insects breed during the summertime, which means they're on the lookout for great places to lay their eggs. For many bugs, that means near a source of food. In fact, some species of insects will lay their eggs inside budding vegetables and fruit so their larvae have something to eat as soon as they hatch. That's why you have to keep harmful bugs out without damaging the bugs that could help you, such as bumble bees.
You might have noticed that, with the exception of the kitchen, you find more pests in your bathroom than in the rest of your home. This is because insects and rodents see the bathroom as a convenient watering hole. Pests love leaky pipes and standing water because these offer them a hydrating oasis in the otherwise dry biome that is your house or apartment. And if your bathroom develops mold, all the better for pests, who may eat fungus or use it to lay their eggs.
