How To Get Rid Of Groundhogs
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How to get rid of groundhogs or woodchucks in the Richmond VA, Henrico VA, Charlottesville VA, and other areas of Virginia is a question we are frequently asked. Groundhogs are also known as woodchucks and whistle pigs. They are often confused with gophers, pocket gophers, prairie dogs and hedgehogs. They eat plants and love to invade gardens during the Spring and Summer. They are excellent diggers creating holes in yards, fields and the edges of wood lines. Common groundhog complaints include:
- Groundhogs burrowing next to houses
- Groundhogs living under a deck or porch
- Groundhogs eating vegetables in gardens
- Sidewalks collapsing due to groundhogs tunneling
- Damage to HVAC systems and ductwork caused by groundhogs in crawl spaces
- Groundhogs digging under sheds and garages
- Horses breaking their legs in a groundhog hole
- Farm equipment being damaged by groundhog burrows
Step By Step Instructions On Getting Rid Of Groundhogs
- Purchase a large and sturdy cage trap. Preferably one rated for raccoons and about 12 x 12 x 30 inches in size.
- Monitor groundhog movements to determine the areas being frequented by the nuisance woodchucks. Set your groundhog trap in these areas after baiting them with fresh fruits and vegetables. Make sure you do not leave human scent on the traps and set them in shady areas (groundhogs do not tolerate extreme heat and will die quickly).
- It is against the law to transport and relocate animal in Virginia. Any groundhogs that you catch MUST be euthanized on site and the carcass disposed of in accordance with local and state laws.
Many of our animal removal customers in Richmond, Henrico, Midlothian, Chesterfield and Charlottesville VA do not like the idea of trapping any type of wildlife. In these cases you can often resolve a groundhog problem without trapping the animal. As an example, you can install fencing around a garden you don’t want eaten by groundhogs, squirrels, raccoons, rabbits and other animals. If you use a cage trap, be sure to set it in the shade and relocate the groundhog as soon as possible. NEVER attempt to poison groundhogs. Unfortunately, there are no effective or registered groundhog repellents approved for use in Virginia.
If you have groundhog living under a deck, shed, or other structure, install an exclusion barrier – steel mesh around the perimeter, and down at least 12 into the ground, with bottom of mesh sloping outward. If you need help excluding animals give us a call. We provide animal exclusion services for all types of animals.
Our Service Areas for Groundhog Removal, Groundhog Trapping & Groundhog Control in Virginia
If you don’t want to get rid of groundhogs yourself call us. We provide fast, safe and humane groundhog removal, groundhog trapping, groundhog capture, groundhog control and groundhog management in Richmond, VA and other areas of Virginia including:
Afton, Albemarle County, Alexandria, Amelia County, Annandale, Arlington, Ashburn, Ashland, Barboursville, Bellwood, Belmont, Bensley, Bermuda Hundred, Bon Air, Boyd Tavern, Brandermill, Bumpass, Burke, Central VA, Centreville, Chamberlain, Charlottesville, Chesapeake, Chester, Chesterfield County, Colonial Heights, Crozet, Cuckoo, CVille, Dale City, Doswell, Dumbarton, Earlysville, East Highland Park, Enon, Ettrick, Fairfax, Fair Oaks, Ferncliff, Fluvanna County, Fredericksburg, Genito, Glen Allen, Glenora, Goochland County, Gordonsville, Gum Spring, Hadensville, Hampton, Hampton Park, Hanover County, Harrisonburg, Harrogate, Hening, Henrico County, Highland Springs, Hopewell, Innsbrook, Jefferson Davis, Kents Store, Keswick, Lake Anna, Lake Monticello, Lake Ridge, Lakeside, Laurel, Leesburg, Lewiston, Lignum, Locust Grove, Louisa County, Maidens, Manakin, Manakin-Sabot, Manassas, Manchester, McLean, Montrose, Motoaca, Meadowbrook, Mechanicsville, Midlothian, Mineral, Moseley, Newport News, Norfolk, North Courthouse, North Garden, Oilville, Orange County, Palmyra, Pantops, Petersburg, Portsmouth, Powhatan County, Reams, Reston, Richmond, Richmond County, Robious, Rockville, Rockwood, RVA, Salisbury, Sandston, Sandy Hook, Scottsville, Shannon Hill, Short Pump, South Rockwood, Spring Run, Staunton, Stoney Point, Suffolk, Tidewater, Troy, Tuckahoe, Va, Varina, Virginia, Virginia Beach, Waynesboro, Williamsburg, Winchester, Winterpock, Woodlake, Wyndham, and the surrounding areas of Virginia.
We also provide groundhog fencing and groundhog exclusion services to help keep them from digging beneath structures.
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Additional information on groundhogs, groundhog removal and how to get rid of groundhogs can be found here.
