Outdoor Animal Control - Woodchuck Under My Shed

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slickshift
05-21-07, 11:53 AM
Yeah, cute little guy too
Saw him/her this morning munching on things (weeds?wildflowers?) in/on my lawn
Now I know what happened to my Hostas near the shed
I was blaming the deer, but they usually wait until it's bigger, and I didn't find any tracks...

Problem is, the shed is right next to the veggie garden, and a few steps from the herb garden and teeny, tiny, soon to be blueberry bushes

Although some of this is fenced in, I know the temptation will overcome the little guy, and I expect problems

The shed is actually a little off the ground in parts, as we are up against a bit of a bog here
But I can see a perfect opening for him/her to get under the shed, and there is a bit of dirt piled up right there

I could block off the opening, but I can't see a "hole" in the ground
There is not much room or light, the the opening under the shed is just big enough for say...a woodchuck
I know they will merely dig around it anyway

How can I "convince" this critter to relocate someplace else?
Preferably far away from my soon-to-be Woodchuck Buffet...

Thanks in advance for any tips, trick, suggestions or solutions


ocoee
05-22-07, 05:16 PM
Try a live catch trap baited with whatever it is he's eating set next to or very near the burrow

Blood meal might work if it contains camphor, mothballs or camphor flakes may also work

I have never dealt with them or even seen one here and can only base my answer on book learning and associating their behavior with other squirrel species
Heck i don't even know the answer to that age old question

other than that I can only add that most squirrels are edible

twelvepole
05-22-07, 07:40 PM
Woodchucks (also known as groundhogs and whistlepigs) are considered large ground squirrels. They use the same burrow for hibernation, mating and raising young. It has a main entrance and an emergency escape. Some have a summer home (the more affluent ones?). They have a big celebration around the 4th of July when they kick out the babies. It is not clear whether the mother or the father moves on, but once the babies are out of the burrow there's only one groundhog remaining.

Motion sensor sprinklers have been reported to be very successful in driving out and keeping out unwanted animals in the landscape. There are repellents available. Live trapping is the preferred method, but many states have laws about relocation. Thus, you need to check with the local wildlife management. If you live in a rural area, relocation may be acceptable.

Groundhogs like cover, so eliminating cover in the landscape is important. Keeping open areas under sheds and decks sealed to exclude animals is important. Groundhogs burrow under fences. Chicken wire can be attached to garden fences or lattice work beneath sheds and decks. Part of it should be buried, bent at a 90-degree angle, 1 foot below the surface, with the bottom of the fence pointing away from the shed, deck, or garden.