7 Tips for Controlling Groundhog Infestations

Posted on July 11, 2023 by Budgetanimal

Groundhogs, also known as woodchucks or whistle-pigs, are common pests in many parts of the United States. Whether you have a small infestation of groundhogs living under your porch or a large population on your property, controlling them can be challenging. With proper knowledge and techniques, however, it is possible to keep these critters away from your home and garden. Below are 7 tips for controlling groundhog infestations that will help you get started.

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Nuisance Groundhog Damages and Threats

When it comes to nuisance groundhogs, the potential for extensive damage to property can be daunting. These critters may look harmless, but their burrows and tunneling can wreak havoc on lawns, gardens, and even building foundations. In addition to the physical damage, groundhogs can also pose a threat to pets and people. Their burrowing activity can create tripping hazards and weaken the structural integrity of outdoor structures. If you suspect a groundhog infestation on your property, it’s important to take action quickly before the damage becomes too extensive. Professional critter control services can help you safely and effectively remove these pesky animals and protect your property from further destruction.

How to Deter Groundhogs and Keep Them Off of Your Property

1. Identify the source of the infestation. Knowing where groundhogs are coming from is the first step in getting rid of them. Look around your property for signs such as burrows, droppings, and tracks. This will help you identify areas to focus on when setting up control measures.

2. Exclusion is key. Groundhogs dig long burrows that can provide access to your home or garden, so it’s important to make sure they can’t get in by sealing off potential entry points or installing barriers such as fencing or hardware cloth around your yard or garden beds.

3. Eliminate food sources that attract groundhogs. Make sure to keep pet food indoors, and keep your garden free of weeds, garbage, and other plant matter that groundhogs may find attractive.

4. Use a repellent to drive them away. There are a variety of commercial repellents available to try such as castor oil, putrescent egg, or coyote urine, which can be sprayed around the perimeter of your property or garden beds.

5. Trap the groundhogs humanely. If you have a smaller infestation, trapping is an effective way to get rid of them without harming the animals. Make sure to check local laws on trapping before attempting it yourself, as there may be restrictions in place in some areas.

6. Try scent-based deterrents. Non-toxic repellents can drive away groundhogs from your property. Moth balls, ammonia-soaked rags, and predator urine have all been known to be effective in keeping groundhogs away.

7. Hire a Licensed Wildlife Control Company. If the infestation is too large for you to handle yourself or if the problem persists after trying all of the above tips, it may be time to call in an expert wildlife control company for groundhog removal service. Professionals have access to more powerful tools and techniques that can help get rid of groundhog infestations quickly and effectively.

These 7 tips should help you get started with controlling groundhog infestations around your home or garden. Remember to take preventative measures such as sealing potential entry points and eliminating food sources to reduce the risk of future infestations. With the right knowledge and techniques, you can keep your property groundhog-free!

Are groundhogs becoming a nuisance around your residential or commercial property in Indiana? Contact Budget Animal Removal at 317-875-3099 for DNR licensed and insured groundhog removal and control in Indianapolis, Indiana you can afford. Request a free estimate or advice, today!

How to Identify a Woodchuck in Your Backyard

Posted on February 15, 2023 by Budgetanimal

Woodchucks, more commonly known as groundhogs, are a common sight in many backyards across Tennessee. These large, squirrel-like rodents can cause damage to lawns, gardens, decking, and similar yard features if left unchecked, so it’s important to be able to identify them quickly and accurately.

In this blog post, we’ll discuss how to identify a groundhog living in your backyard and what steps you should take for effective groundhog control. We will also provide some tips on how to keep these critters away from your property in the future. With this information, you’ll be well-equipped with everything you need to know about woodchucks!

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What You Need to Know About Woodchucks

Woodchuck Classification

The groundhog, or woodchuck, is scientifically known as Marmota monax. They are a rodent from the family of Sciuridae, and they belong to the group of large ground squirrels called marmots. So yes, woodchucks are indeed a type of rodent.

Woodchuck Features

Woodchucks are easily recognizable due to their stout and heavy body, short legs, and black-tipped ears. They range from 16-20 inches in length and typically weigh between 4-15 pounds when fully grown. They’re usually brown or gray in color with white patches on their throat and chest area.

Woodchuck Damage

Another way to identify groundhogs is by the type of damage they cause. These critters love to dig burrows near properties and are notorious for damaging fences, flower beds, gardens, and even foundations! If you find any suspicious tunnels around your yard or property, it’s a sure sign that woodchucks have taken up residence there.

Woodchuck Removal and Control

For woodchuck control, the best thing to do is to remove them from your property, as woodchucks can cause a lot of damage if left unchecked. Trapping and relocation are the most effective methods for groundhog control. However, it’s important to be aware that groundhogs are protected in some states and trapping without a valid permit may result in legal consequences.

Animal Proofing

Finally, there are certain prevention measures you can take to help keep woodchucks away from your backyard. Properly maintaining fences and walls around properties can help discourage groundhogs from taking up residency on your land. Additionally, removing woodpiles or fallen trees near the perimeter of your property will make it much less attractive to groundhogs looking for shelter and food sources.

Critter Control for Groundhogs

Identifying groundhogs and understanding the steps for woodchuck control can help you keep your backyard safe from their threats. With these critter control tips in mind, you’ll be able to recognize woodchucks quickly and efficiently, as well as take the necessary steps to keep them away from your property for good!

Hopefully this blog post has helped provide useful information on groundhog identification and groundhog control methods. If you have any questions or concerns related to groundhogs in your area, contact Budget Animal Removal at 615-337-9165 for TWRA licensed and insured Nashville, Tennessee animal removal for woodchucks and more.

3 Steps to Safe and Humane Groundhog Control

Posted on May 10, 2022 by Budgetanimal

Whether you call them groundhogs or woodchucks, these thrifty critters are commonly a nuisance to landowners. If you are dealing with a nuisance groundhog problem, it is necessary to find a solution that is both effective and non-lethal. Continue below to learn the 3 step process to safe and humane groundhog removal and control.

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Groundhog Removal and Control Tips

The process of removing groundhogs from a property and mitigating any future activity can include a combination of methodologies and techniques. Overall, safe and humane groundhog removal and control can be accomplished in 3 key steps: identification, modification, and exclusion.

Identifying a Groundhog Problem

Your first step to getting rid of a groundhog problem is to identify where their activity is localized. Do some observation over the course of a few days or weeks to pinpoint where they are going, what they are after, and what kinds of damage they are leaving in their wake. By knowing where the groundhogs are hanging out, you can better put an end to their nuisance activity.

Groundhogs are after three things: food, water, and shelter. Gardens and crops are most at risk. If your gardens or crops look pillaged, you can safely assume the groundhogs are to blame. Other signs of groundhog tampering include nibbled grass and clovers, chewed tree bark, chewed up electrical wiring, and lawn burrowing. Groundhogs like to disguise their burrow entrances with leaves and sticks, so piles of such materials are a key indicator of groundhog activity.

Modifying the Environment

Now that you are sure you have a groundhog presence on or around your property, you can move forward by removing all the things that attract them to your yard. As mentioned, groundhogs want food, water, and shelter. They eat grasses and clovers, but especially love peas, melon, beans, and alfalfa sprouts. They may also eat stored pet food and livestock feed. Be sure these items are secured with fencing, barriers, or lids.

Groundhogs also like to chew on trees and woody plants to sharpen their teeth. Consider implementing barrier systems around vulnerable trees to prevent groundhog chewing. When it comes to their burrows, they love to make their homes in areas of the lawn that are covered with camouflage like stick piles, leaf piles, underbrush, and tall grasses. Eliminate these shelter covers to stop groundhogs from burrowing in your lawn.

Excluding Groundhogs

If you have groundhogs present on your property, you may need to have them physically extracted with the help of a licensed and qualified professional. Contact a local Indianapolis critter control company for humane groundhog removal and control service. They use live traps to catch groundhogs, so the methods are non-lethal and safe.

If you have groundhogs around your property, your final step is to choose an effective groundhog control plan to prevent future intrusions and tampering. Animal repellents work well because they provide a barrier around the perimeter of a property that works like an invisible fence. Groundhog repellents come in granular or liquid form, but you can also make your own at home. Use ingredients like spicy peppers, capsaicin, and putrescent egg for the most effective repellent solution.

Are groundhogs disturbing your Indiana property? Contact Budget Animal Removal at 317-875-3099 for fast and affordable animal removal and control services to get rid of groundhogs in Indianapolis, Indiana and its surrounding counties. Request a free estimate or advice, today!