Groundhogs
might seem like cute and cuddly creatures, but they can wreak havoc on a yard. In fact, it is the burrowers that are the most problematic of any species.
And, as far as burrowers go, it is more than safe to say that groundhogs are by far the worst. Simply put, get a groundhog in your yard digging holes, and you are looking at serious problems.
How To Plug Groundhog Holes
To plug groundhog holes you’ll want to use tunnel fill. It is designed to plug groundhog holes, gopher tunnels, mole tunnels, squirrel tunnels, badger tunnels, or any other tunnel or animal burrow that you want to plug up.
You can get it for a good price on Amazon here.
Groundhogs see the oases and view them as a place to find food. Not only that, but it can provide them with somewhat of a safe haven. At least they’d be safer here than they would in most places.
That aside, if you don’t want groundhogs coming into your space you’re going to have to see to it that you make it less attractive for them.
Some ways to do this are to get rid of the beans, peas, and melons. These are some of the groundhog’s favorite foods and will draw them in every time.
Harvest these crops as soon as you can and don’t plan on planting anymore until you have your yard secured. Along with this, groundhogs tend to burrow in places that provide sufficient cover.
If you have areas with piles of debris, rocks, and wood, you’ll want to get that cleaned up right away. Pretty much any area that provides cover and safe haven for the burrower will need to be eliminated.
Make it a habit to trim back plant that groundhogs may eat or use for cover. As a good rule of thumb, just go ahead and trim back all your plants. This will not only ensure that you eliminate your groundhog problem, but it might just prevent other intruders as well.
Tree trunks and other pieces of wood are very attractive to these critters, as they like to gnaw and grind their teeth on them.
You’ll obviously want to get rid of these as well. After this, you can start filling those holes with gravel and you’ll be well on your way to completely dealing with your groundhog problem without the assistance of a professional.
Sounds like a lot of work, right? That’s because it is, but it’ll likely save you to do the work yourself.
1. Take Advantage Of Offensive Scents
Just like every other animal out there, there are scents that are going to be offensive to the groundhog. Just placing these scents in the holes or around them will likely send your nuisance off scuffling in the opposite direction. Some of the most well-known offensive scents include the following:
Garlic
This one just offers a pungent smell that is too much for the critter. A couple of simple crushed garlic cloves will be more than enough to send them packing.
Lavender
This plant is a versatile one with many uses, but who knew that it would also drive groundhogs crazy? Someone did and you’re lucky enough that they were willing to share the information with you. The best part about lavender is that the smell probably won’t be offensive to you. In fact, you’ll probably like the way it smells, but the groundhog certainly will not.
Cayenne Pepper
This pepper is best known for its taste, but it also packs a punch when it comes to groundhogs as well. Just pouring the pepper around the holes will be enough to eliminate your problem.
You can also spray plants with a mixture of 2 teaspoons of cayenne and 1-quart of water. This will deter the critter and prevent them from nibbling on your most prized possessions.
Once you are sure the groundhogs are deterred, you can go ahead and start filling in the holes with gravel and soil. If you want to be extra sure that you’ve eliminated your problem fill the holes with some of these scents before packing them full.
2. Consider a Castor Oil Mixture
Groundhogs are not a new creature to the animal kingdom. They have been around for decades, and they’ve caused just as many problems back in the day as they are causing you right now.
This is kind of a good thing for you because it means people have already been through this.
They know what works and what doesn’t work. Many homeowners in the past have turned to castor oil as a natural repellent. Many gardeners and farmers swear by the stuff and it’s even currently on Minnesota’s Department of Natural Resources list as one of the most effective ways for groundhog control.
What you’ll want to do is create a supple mixture of ½ coup of castor oil and 2 cups of water. Place the mixture in a garden hose sprayer attachment and spray it in the holes or the areas where you want to deter groundhogs.
Applying the spray at least two or three times after a light rain will likely yield the best and most effective results possible.
If you want a more potent blend, you can mix 1 cup of castor oil with 2 cups of oil soap and 1 ¼ cup of hot sauce. Once you are sure that you’ve deterred the critter, you can begin filling in the holes with gravel and/or soil.
Conclusion
Groundhogs are no doubt an important part of nature. There is also no denying that they seem like cute and cuddly creatures, but get one burrowing in your garden or yard and you’ll change your mind right away. Lucky, this is a problem that you can handle on your own with the information above.
You always do have the option of seeking out a professional, which will come with a guarantee that they’ll eliminate the pest, but the methods above have been tried and proven over the years.
