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Groundhog Prevention Tips and Tactics
The groundhogs are animals like moles, dig holes and live mostly underground and this certainly
has affected their appearance. Their front legs are strong and healthy and the front teeth are
large and even growing year by year. In fact, the teeth often cause problems to these Suffolk County animals.
When they are not in use for some time, the teeth are growing toolong and become ineffective and
sometimes even interfere with normal activities, so often these animals chew solid tends to keep
their teeth in order.
Why do I have a problem ground hog?
The New York groundhogs hibernate from the first heavy frost until the early spring and once up and move, they feed on weeds, grasses, fruit crops, clover and ornamentals. If your garden has these landscape elements, you may have a problem with a groundhog. When the groundhog goes into hibernation, his heart fell from 80 beats per minute to only 4 or 5 and his body temperature dropped about 15 degrees Celsius. Thegroundhogs also use underground toilets during the hibernation. If the groundhogs are into your property, it's time to act. These true hibernators are now awakening in their very wide range (nearly all from the US), soyou want to remove them before they can multiply and increase your problems geometrically.
• Scare Away
Place moving objects around your vegetable and flower beds and that will scary the groundhogs - objects like wheels can sometimes frighten these shy creatures away from your property. Put beautiful whirligigs around your garden to add a decorative touch that serves with a dual purpose. Attach pie plates of aluminum to the fence and the wind blows they scare and rattle the groundhogs.
• Build fences
Using fences around gardens and other small areas can sometimes help reduce the Suffolk County groundhog damage and act as a deterrent groundhog. However, they are excellent climbers and easily crawl over the top of the fences. Therefore, any fence that was erected must be made of 2 x 4-inch wire mesh and at least 3 to 4 feet high with another foot or so buried in the ground. The underground station should face the garden at an angle of 90 degrees to discourage loans.
• Chemical agents
Chemical deterrents for pest mammals are a popular method of control. Predator urine, lynx or, for example, are somewhat effective in repelling groundhogs. But rain or garden irrigation removes their effectiveness.
• Gas cartridges
A large number of supply points for farm and hardware stores sell gas cartridges. Studies show that these cartridges that are labeled for use against rodents are about 85% effective in killing groundhogs in their holes. They contain charcoal and sodium nitrate. Once lit, they produce carbon monoxide gas that killed the New York groundhog. You have to find all entrances to the burrow system and include all but one soil or some other material that will trap the gas. You light the wick and put it inside the remaining hole and then quickly cover it to prevent gas from escaping. I recommend these tape cartridges with a stick or other semi-flexible field and conducting a trial run before actually lit cartridge. The stick allows for deeper insertion of the cartridge inside the burrow, and practice will give you an indication of any fast becoming delved may take surface. Of course, it helps if groundhog offender is actually burrow into you gas. You can test burrow activity by completing all entrances with dirt or grass, and then check in 12 - 24 h. If a groundhog is inside, it will come to eat during this period. You should watch the groundhogs entering the burrow before gassing.
Prevent the groundhogs from coming back
Now that you've learned how to get rid of the groundhogs, you will want to protect them from returning. These little animals can cause a lot of damage, not just to your garden plants, but for people, animals and buildings as well. Their moves can cause problems with building foundations, as well as animals and humans have also been known to step into holes dug by Suffolk County groundhogs. This can lead to a broken leg, it is not only painful, but also can lead to expensive vet bills for pets. If you have livestock such as cattle, you may even lose an animal that is badly wounded. Knowing that thegroundhogs (also known as marmots, Woodchucks or rock chucks) are shy creatures is your first step of protecting. Remove hiding places and will discourage them from taking up residence in your yard. Keeping your yard and garden by cutting high weeds and grass and remove brush piles where the groundhogs and other common garden pests like to hide.
Go back to the Wildlife Removal Suffolk County NY home page.
Groundhog Prevention Tips and Tactics
Why do I have a problem ground hog?
The New York groundhogs hibernate from the first heavy frost until the early spring and once up and move, they feed on weeds, grasses, fruit crops, clover and ornamentals. If your garden has these landscape elements, you may have a problem with a groundhog. When the groundhog goes into hibernation, his heart fell from 80 beats per minute to only 4 or 5 and his body temperature dropped about 15 degrees Celsius. Thegroundhogs also use underground toilets during the hibernation. If the groundhogs are into your property, it's time to act. These true hibernators are now awakening in their very wide range (nearly all from the US), soyou want to remove them before they can multiply and increase your problems geometrically.
• Scare Away
Place moving objects around your vegetable and flower beds and that will scary the groundhogs - objects like wheels can sometimes frighten these shy creatures away from your property. Put beautiful whirligigs around your garden to add a decorative touch that serves with a dual purpose. Attach pie plates of aluminum to the fence and the wind blows they scare and rattle the groundhogs.
• Build fences
Using fences around gardens and other small areas can sometimes help reduce the Suffolk County groundhog damage and act as a deterrent groundhog. However, they are excellent climbers and easily crawl over the top of the fences. Therefore, any fence that was erected must be made of 2 x 4-inch wire mesh and at least 3 to 4 feet high with another foot or so buried in the ground. The underground station should face the garden at an angle of 90 degrees to discourage loans.
• Chemical agents
Chemical deterrents for pest mammals are a popular method of control. Predator urine, lynx or, for example, are somewhat effective in repelling groundhogs. But rain or garden irrigation removes their effectiveness.
• Gas cartridges
A large number of supply points for farm and hardware stores sell gas cartridges. Studies show that these cartridges that are labeled for use against rodents are about 85% effective in killing groundhogs in their holes. They contain charcoal and sodium nitrate. Once lit, they produce carbon monoxide gas that killed the New York groundhog. You have to find all entrances to the burrow system and include all but one soil or some other material that will trap the gas. You light the wick and put it inside the remaining hole and then quickly cover it to prevent gas from escaping. I recommend these tape cartridges with a stick or other semi-flexible field and conducting a trial run before actually lit cartridge. The stick allows for deeper insertion of the cartridge inside the burrow, and practice will give you an indication of any fast becoming delved may take surface. Of course, it helps if groundhog offender is actually burrow into you gas. You can test burrow activity by completing all entrances with dirt or grass, and then check in 12 - 24 h. If a groundhog is inside, it will come to eat during this period. You should watch the groundhogs entering the burrow before gassing.
Prevent the groundhogs from coming back
Now that you've learned how to get rid of the groundhogs, you will want to protect them from returning. These little animals can cause a lot of damage, not just to your garden plants, but for people, animals and buildings as well. Their moves can cause problems with building foundations, as well as animals and humans have also been known to step into holes dug by Suffolk County groundhogs. This can lead to a broken leg, it is not only painful, but also can lead to expensive vet bills for pets. If you have livestock such as cattle, you may even lose an animal that is badly wounded. Knowing that thegroundhogs (also known as marmots, Woodchucks or rock chucks) are shy creatures is your first step of protecting. Remove hiding places and will discourage them from taking up residence in your yard. Keeping your yard and garden by cutting high weeds and grass and remove brush piles where the groundhogs and other common garden pests like to hide.
Go back to the Wildlife Removal Suffolk County NY home page.
Groundhog Prevention Tips and Tactics