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How to Get Rid of Long Island Groundhogs
Groundhogs are found in open woodlots, pastures, ditches, fields, and roadsides.
During the early spring, the Suffolk County groundhogs are most active during the warmer parts of the day.
However, during the summer months and the warmer spring the groundhogs spent the day in their
cool holes and feeding occurs during the very early morning and evening.
Groundhogs hibernate begin mid-October and appear in February. Their burrow system is about 2-4 feet underground and can extend 15-25 feet horizontally. Groundhog main nest camera is usually located at the end of the burrow. The main entrance is seen as a pile of fresh dirt around the opening. Groundhogs are active during the day, especially early morning and late afternoon. In residential areas they can be found in homes, backyards, decks, garages and store the timber. There are many things you can do to remove the groundhogs from your lawn and garden. Try some of these methods effectively and humanely control the population of the groundhog:
Fumigation
Using gas cartridges to fumigate the ground hog's den is usually the easiest method of getting rid of the pest for good. The carbon monoxide fumes that are emitted will suffocate and kill the pest. The gas is flamed and put in the ground of the hog's burrow. It is important when using this method to follow the product label exactly and to make sure that the ground hog is "home" at the time of fumigation and not out foraging for food. The best time to try the fumigation technique is from March to September when the New York ground hog is not in hibernation and on cool, rainy days when the ground hog is not very active. The gas should not be used under houses, sheds or other outbuildings or in areas where the applicators retreat will be hampered.
Castor Oil
Castor oil is a repellant that is used to deter groundhogs as well. It works like the eggs where you’d place about a spoon full of castor oil into the burrows and seal them with dirt. You could also take ½ cup of castor oil and mix it with at least 2 cups of water. Once you have done this, place the mixture inside of a spray bottle. You can spray this mixture all around your garden and lawn to keep the woodchucks from nibbling on anything. You should repeat this every 2-3 weeks for it to keep the woodchucks from coming back. The problem with this is that you have to keep dishing out the dough for a solution that is not guaranteed and offers no permanent results.
Groundhog repellents
These type of sprays are made to deter the Suffolk County animals, because theycannot stand the smell. You usually will spray around the perimeter of the house or from where you want to remove the intruders. This works quite well, but these sprays are known to disappear quickly.
Fencing
Build a fence around your yard or around your garden is the most effective and humane way to control the groundhog problem. Most people poison them or use traps that kill them, but these are not human practices and do not discourage new populations of groundhogs from moving in. Be sure to build the fence deep enough (at least one leg) to keep them from burial under the fence.
Capturing
There are two types of capture; live bait and deadly traps that are both effective but deadly traps is not necessary as live bait does the same thing. You can buy traps at any hardware store, lawn and garden store or pet store. They are easy to setup and safe for you and the animal. However, there are a few tricks you can try to make the traps more effectively. The first is to wash the trap and use latex gloves when you set it up so that the smell of man is not on it. Secondly, put the trap on a flat surface so the trap is not accidentally snapped before the animal gets in to the trap. Thirdly, check the traps every day and if you are catching anything cover it up with branches. Once you trapped a groundhog it is important to move it to a new home in a field, meadow or woodland that is at least 20 miles from your home, making it unable to find its way back. Groundhogs can cause major damage to farmers and home gardeners. They love to eat vegetables and leave the soil weak in areas where they burrow, resulting in damage to farm equipment and injuries to horses and livestock. In some cases, Suffolk County groundhog burrows could damage the foundations of gardens, garages, barns, or homes.
Go back to the Wildlife Removal Suffolk County NY home page.
Groundhogs hibernate begin mid-October and appear in February. Their burrow system is about 2-4 feet underground and can extend 15-25 feet horizontally. Groundhog main nest camera is usually located at the end of the burrow. The main entrance is seen as a pile of fresh dirt around the opening. Groundhogs are active during the day, especially early morning and late afternoon. In residential areas they can be found in homes, backyards, decks, garages and store the timber. There are many things you can do to remove the groundhogs from your lawn and garden. Try some of these methods effectively and humanely control the population of the groundhog:
Fumigation
Using gas cartridges to fumigate the ground hog's den is usually the easiest method of getting rid of the pest for good. The carbon monoxide fumes that are emitted will suffocate and kill the pest. The gas is flamed and put in the ground of the hog's burrow. It is important when using this method to follow the product label exactly and to make sure that the ground hog is "home" at the time of fumigation and not out foraging for food. The best time to try the fumigation technique is from March to September when the New York ground hog is not in hibernation and on cool, rainy days when the ground hog is not very active. The gas should not be used under houses, sheds or other outbuildings or in areas where the applicators retreat will be hampered.
Castor Oil
Castor oil is a repellant that is used to deter groundhogs as well. It works like the eggs where you’d place about a spoon full of castor oil into the burrows and seal them with dirt. You could also take ½ cup of castor oil and mix it with at least 2 cups of water. Once you have done this, place the mixture inside of a spray bottle. You can spray this mixture all around your garden and lawn to keep the woodchucks from nibbling on anything. You should repeat this every 2-3 weeks for it to keep the woodchucks from coming back. The problem with this is that you have to keep dishing out the dough for a solution that is not guaranteed and offers no permanent results.
Groundhog repellents
These type of sprays are made to deter the Suffolk County animals, because theycannot stand the smell. You usually will spray around the perimeter of the house or from where you want to remove the intruders. This works quite well, but these sprays are known to disappear quickly.
Fencing
Build a fence around your yard or around your garden is the most effective and humane way to control the groundhog problem. Most people poison them or use traps that kill them, but these are not human practices and do not discourage new populations of groundhogs from moving in. Be sure to build the fence deep enough (at least one leg) to keep them from burial under the fence.
Capturing
There are two types of capture; live bait and deadly traps that are both effective but deadly traps is not necessary as live bait does the same thing. You can buy traps at any hardware store, lawn and garden store or pet store. They are easy to setup and safe for you and the animal. However, there are a few tricks you can try to make the traps more effectively. The first is to wash the trap and use latex gloves when you set it up so that the smell of man is not on it. Secondly, put the trap on a flat surface so the trap is not accidentally snapped before the animal gets in to the trap. Thirdly, check the traps every day and if you are catching anything cover it up with branches. Once you trapped a groundhog it is important to move it to a new home in a field, meadow or woodland that is at least 20 miles from your home, making it unable to find its way back. Groundhogs can cause major damage to farmers and home gardeners. They love to eat vegetables and leave the soil weak in areas where they burrow, resulting in damage to farm equipment and injuries to horses and livestock. In some cases, Suffolk County groundhog burrows could damage the foundations of gardens, garages, barns, or homes.
Go back to the Wildlife Removal Suffolk County NY home page.