What is a Natural Deterrent for Groundhogs?

Groundhogs are rodents also known as whistle pigs, marmot, woodchucks etc., they can cause many damages to your home or garden, and this is because they are very good in digging. Through their digging, they can create extensive tunnel systems containing hallways, chambers and different exit points; they can weaken the soil, which can result in damaging building foundations, farm equipments, barns and injuries to livestock.

Groundhogs are herbivores, they will eat leaves, soft fruits, vegetables, they also feed on foods like beans, peas, corn, and field crops like clover, alfalfa etc. They can burrow in the ground, sleeping there, hibernating and rearing their young ones.

They can be a huge annoyance to the home and gardeners because of their destructive nature. Therefore, below are some of the natural deterrents for groundhogs:

Pour Ammonia in Their Tunnel

One of the best ways to deter groundhogs from your home or garden is to pour ammonia down their tunnel, this method may not kill them but it ensures they don’t come back. Using this method requires you to find all their holes because there may be several of them, and you need to do this for several days to achieve effective results. Just get ammonia and mix it with water, pour the solution down their tunnels; and you can even add castor oil and cayenne pepper for more effect.



Sprinkle Human Hair Around Your Yard

Since groundhogs are scared of humans, therefore it is good to spoil their natural habitat with the scent of human hair. What you need is to; take some clippings of your hair and put it inside a mesh bag. Stake the bag containing the hair into the ground around your yard, or throw some bunch of hair clippings into their burrows, this will make them mad and run away with paranoia.

Smoking Them Out

You can use smoke to chase out groundhogs from your yard or garden; this is because they are allergic to its smell. The easiest way to carry this out is to buy a gas cartridge and fill the burrows up, make sure the groundhogs are inside the hole. Once you are sure they are inside, then fill up all the entrances except one, light up the gas cartridge and throw it into the open entrance. Quickly fill it up with dirt to trap them and the carbon monoxide inside, or leave it open if you don’t want to kill them.

Get Dog or Cat Urine

Dogs and cats are a threat to groundhogs and they are seen as predators. Groundhogs will move to another place if they discover that their present location is unbearable. Just get a dog or cat urine and sprinkle it around your home or garden. In case, you can locate where their burrows are; pour the dog or cat urine around their entrances, this will definitely chase them away.

Flush Them Out with Water

One of the ways to get rid of groundhogs is to flush them out with water, just stick a garden hose into their tunnel entrance and turn on the tap. Once this is done, their tunnel will get flooded and they will find means to escape.



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