How far away should I release a groundhog?

Once you have trapped the groundhog it is important to relocate it to a new home in a field, meadow or wooded area that is at least 20 miles away from your home so they don't find their way back.

Also to know is, is it bad to have a groundhog in your yard?

A groundhog's, or woodchuck's burrow are holes with large piles of dirt at the entrances and are a nuisance and can be dangerous. A groundhog's tunnels are very large and have many chambers which are invasive to your lawn and garden. So basically, they love to set up around your garden's fence or a farm's field.

Also, how do I keep a groundhog out of my garden? Here are 5 simple tactics for keeping groundhogs out of your yard and garden – and keeping your garden harvest for yourself.

Reduce their food supply. One simple way to discourage groundhogs is to harvest your garden often.
Keep the garden neat.
Repel them.
Block them out.
Live trap with caution…or leave it to the pros.

Additionally, what do you do if you catch a groundhog?

Once you catch the groundhog, you need to go by state law, and humanely kill the animal. This is the case for most states, sadly. If you find that you must humanely kill the groundhog, and don't want to do so, you can either try to scare the animal off your property, or just learn to cohabitate.

What do groundhogs like to eat the most?

Most Common Groundhog Meals Primarily, groundhogs eat grasses, clover, alfalfa, and dandelions. In addition, groundhogs like to eat garden fruits and vegetables like berries, apples, lettuce, corn, and carrots.

39 Related Question Answers Found

Will groundhogs attack humans?

Yes, groundhogs or woodchucks (a type of marmot or large ground squirrel) can, and will bite. But for a wild groundhog to bite a human in the course of routine and un-provoked behavior would be a very, very rare incident.

How do you get rid of a groundhog in your yard?

How to Get Rid of Groundhogs

Bait the groundhog into a trap, catch it, and then release it in a wooded area five miles away from your home.
Create vibrations in the ground to scare them away.
Smoke them out of their tunnel.
Pour ammonia down their tunnel.
Deter with garlic and pepper.

Will bubble gum kill groundhogs?

Noel Falk, the “Plant Doctor” had recommended using “Double Bubble” brand bubble gum to eliminate groundhogs. Supposedly groundhogs love this particular brand of bubble gum, but once they eat it, it gums up their insides and ultimately kills them.

Do groundhogs live alone?

Burrowing: With their long, sharp claws, groundhogs dig complex multi-chamber burrows that they use for hoarding food, nesting and hibernating. Socialization: Groundhogs are mostly solitary animals, only seeking out other groundhogs to mate.

How do you plug in a groundhog hole?

Immediately seal the burrow by placing the piece of precut sod, grass side down over the opening and tramping it down slightly to make a tight seal. Wait three to four minutes and watch nearby holes. Seal them if smoke is escaping. Repeat steps 1 through 4 until all groundhog burrows are closed.

What is a natural way to get rid of groundhogs?

How to Get Rid of Groundhogs

Sprinkle blood meal, ground black pepper, dried blood, or talcum powder around the perimeter of your garden.
Puree and strain hot peppers and garlic, mix them with water and enough liquid soap to make it stick, and spray it liberally around the garden.

Are groundhogs aggressive?

Groundhogs, also known as woodchucks, are found all over central and eastern US. They dig burrows in grassy areas and are known to eat through gardens. They're hard to get rid of because they are aggressive animals, and can have rabies.

Can groundhogs climb?

Though they spend most of their time on or under the ground, groundhogs can also climb trees.

Do groundhogs like peanut butter?

Groundhogs are vegetarians, though they will eat insects in times of absolute necessity. Since they enjoy plants so much, most baits are derived from berries, greens, and other sweet juices. Sometimes companies will include human foods like peanut butter, since they have strong scents and include a lot of sugar.

What is good bait for groundhogs?

Some of the most successful vegetables that can be used as groundhog bait include peas, lettuce sweetcorn and string beans, while fruits such as cantaloupe, strawberries and beaches are also popular. These should be left in the trap in a position where the animal has to trigger the trap in order to reach the bait.

Are groundhogs nocturnal?

Unlike opossums and other large rodents who are nocturnal, groundhogs sleep at night and conduct business during the day. Groundhogs have winter homes. They even make a special burrow just for the winter!

Are groundhogs dangerous?

Perhaps the most dangerous thing about a groundhog is the holes they dig. A person could suffer a leg or ankle injury stumbling across one of those holes. They also pose a threat to our gardens, either by the burrowing they do, or by feeding on the plants and produce.

Do groundhogs make good pets?

It is illegal to make a wild animal your pet. Not only are you trying to domesticate an animal, but you may be preventing a mother from returning to her den, or separating a family of groundhogs. Groundhogs do not make good pets, as they obviously dig and chew through almost anything in their path.

Do groundhogs like apples?

Groundhogs are herbivores. They like almost all vegetables in your vegetable garden and many herbs, too. Groundhogs eat all parts of plants. In addition to vegetables, they also like fruits, including apples and pears, Watermelons are a favorite meal.

How do I catch a woodchuck?

The best way to catch a groundhog is with a trap and some bait.

The main steps are:

Choose a cage with strong wire mesh so that the woodchuck can't bite through it.
Place the cage near the animal burrow.
Insert a tasty bait into the trap (we recommend clover or alfalfa sprouts; click here for more baiting ideas)

Do Groundhogs eat meat?

Mostly herbivorous, groundhogs eat primarily wild grasses and other vegetation, including berries and agricultural crops, when available. Groundhogs also occasionally eat grubs, grasshoppers, insects, snails and other small animals, but are not as omnivorous as many other Sciuridae.

Where can I release a woodchuck?

To release the groundhog, you have to choose wooded area away from the property so that it will not be able to return. You should choose the area where there is enough water and where it can get the food easily.