Woodchucks or Ground Hogs, a Major Nuisance By Any Name (August 2003)

Woodchucks or Ground Hogs, a Major Nuisance By Any Name

(Adapted from Buckeye Yard and Garden Line, 7-31-03, OSU Extension)

Ground hogs will take up residence anywhere they can find ample food, relative quiet and easy digging soil to produce a shelter.   Homes and gardens usually have soils that have been previously disturbed and are easy to dig.  The ornamental plants, gardens, and turf provide ample food. Also through the day, it is usually fairly quiet around most urban homes, creating an inviting area to live. Unfortunately, there are no quick and easy solutions to ground hog problems.

There are no effective repellents to keep ground hogs out of a prime burrow location.  Predator urine/feces and sonic/ultra-sonic devices are ineffective.   About the only thing that works well are exclusion barriers, i.e. heavy gauge, small hole hardware cloth.  The lower edge of the fencing should be buried 8 to 12 inches below the soil line.  However, if the ground hog is already established in a burrow, the ground hog will need to be removed.

In rural settings, ground hogs can be shot to remove them.   This practice might take some time because the ground hogs can be flighty.  The slightest noise can send them diving for their burrows and once spooked, they may not show themselves for long periods of time.  One should also be very careful as to the directions one is shooting.   Discharging a firearm in suburban and urban environments or near houses is not legal in most areas.  Check with the ODNR (local Game Protector) and local officials before shooting.    Trapping may be a necessity.

Ground hogs can be trapped using cage (live) traps if they are correctly set up and baited.  Place the trap in the general area of the ground hog’s activity.   Bait the trap with one of the following baits: apple, celery, sweet corn, sweet potato or peanut butter.  Fresh bait should be placed in traps on a daily basis. If one bait does not produce results, switch to a new bait and only use one type of bait at a time. Sometimes, ground hogs do not like to walk across the wire bottom of the cage. This can be remedied by sifting soft soil over the bottom of the trap up to the trip pan. Some ground hogs may be trap shy. These animals may need to be lulled into a false sense of security by wiring the trap doors open for a few days and feed the animal inside and outside of the trap. Once the ground hog gets used to the trap, set it to capture the less leery critter.

Have a plan as to how you are going to dispose of the ground hog(s) before you begin trapping.  In most areas, it is illegal to release nuisance animals on property belonging to others or in incorporated areas.  This includes park lands and wildlife reserves.  The animal may have to be destroyed.  One may also capture other non-target animals, such as raccoons, skunks and opossums.  Due to rabies potential, local regulations may require that some animals be destroy – and not released.   Again, check with the ODNR and/or local authorities before releasing. Once you are sure you have removed all of the resident ground hogs, construct your barriers.

You can contact Mr. Oelker at the Columbiana County Office of Ohio State University Extension at (330) 424-7291, or by e-mail at oelker.2@osu.edu . Please visit our Web site: columbiana.osu.edu.