/ Register

  1. If this is your first time on BYC, we suggest you start with one of these three options:
    Raising Chickens Chicken Coops Join BYC
    If you're already a member of our community, click here to login & click here to learn what's new!

groundhogs

Discussion in 'Predators and Pests' started by okdfarms, May 22, 2011.

Most Liked Posts
Page 1 of 2
  1. May 22, 2011 #1
    okdfarms

    okdfarms Out Of The Brooder

    38
    0
    22
    Oct 4, 2010
    does anyone have a REALLY effective way of dealing with groundgogs -- other then ss. they are buroughing under our raised coop. hubby did manage to take out mama, but the newbies are setting up house. thanks
     
  3. May 23, 2011 #2
    CMV

    CMV Flock Mistress

    6,771
    128
    281
    Apr 15, 2009
    No. Shooting them is about the only method of dealing with them. Relocation is illegal in most states. I would get rid of them if I were you. They will undermine the supports of your coop and topple it if left to their own devices.

    A family member had a family of woodchucks move under her large concrete stair structure. They undermined it so badly that it fell away from the house leaving a large gap between the top step and the house. It was a nightmare to fix and very expensive.

    Good luck.
     
  5. May 23, 2011 #3
    aprophet

    aprophet Chillin' With My Peeps

    3,799
    10
    209
    Jan 12, 2010
    chesapeake Va.
    push a cage trap up to their den/borough and then cover the trap with a blanket depends on where I am I use larger conibear traps as well 220 size
     
    Last edited: May 23, 2011
  7. May 23, 2011 #4
    greyhorsewoman

    greyhorsewoman Chillin' With My Peeps

    853
    0
    149
    Mar 3, 2008
    Endless Mts, NE PA
    Pouring USED kitty litter into their holes will encourage them to move. (I'd imagine dog do-do would work as well.) Not sure if their relocation site will be anymore agreeable, but it's worked for me.
     
  9. May 23, 2011 #5
    Two Creeks Farm

    Two Creeks Farm Chillin' With My Peeps

    879
    9
    123
    Apr 23, 2011
    Hedgesville, WV
    Big rodents....shoot them or trap and kill.
     
  11. May 23, 2011 #6
    moetrout

    moetrout Chillin' With My Peeps

    842
    32
    153
    May 5, 2010
    Milan, MI
    I once use a hose and motorcycle exhaust. I assume it killed them in the hole because they never flushed out of the hole so then I just filled the hole with dirt and some big rocks to keep any others form redigging that hole out.
     
  13. May 23, 2011 #7
    Nambroth

    Nambroth Fud Lady

    2,758
    523
    261
    Apr 7, 2011
    Boonies of NY
    My Coop
    Quote:Bear in mind that woodchucks (as we call them here) nearly always have at least two exits from their burrows, sometimes a fair distance away from the main hole.
     
  15. May 23, 2011 #8
    bryan99705

    bryan99705 Chillin' With My Peeps

    1,471
    5
    131
    May 16, 2011
    North Pole, Alaska 99705
    We have marmuts here and dogs are effective especially if there is a lure. not a poison, to get them to expose themselves above ground
     
  17. May 23, 2011 #9
    aprophet

    aprophet Chillin' With My Peeps

    3,799
    10
    209
    Jan 12, 2010
    chesapeake Va.
    Quote:Bear in mind that woodchucks (as we call them here) nearly always have at least two exits from their burrows, sometimes a fair distance away from the main hole.

    I normally find all the holes and fill them with dirt they will dig back out the main active holes after they show me where to set the trap it is very easy to catch them
     
  19. May 23, 2011 #10
    mjuenem

    mjuenem Chillin' With My Peeps

    189
    0
    89
    Aug 8, 2010
    Putnam Co.
    I had a groundhog in a hillside near the daylight for my downspout. Moved the pipe over a bit so it fed into their hole. They dug another opening off to the side about 6' so I moved the pipe. A month or so later the groundhog has moved to my neighbor's place and there is no more activity in the holes I filled.
     
Page 1 of 2

BackYard Chickens is proudly sponsored by