If you live in the United States, it is important to learn how to get rid of groundhogs for good by natural means. Groundhogs are classified as rodents being the largest member of the squirrel family.
So What Exactly Are Groundhogs and Where Do They Live?
Groundhogs are also referred to as whistle pigs or woodchucks. They are a part of the six species of woodchucks and marmots that live in the United States. They invade vegetable gardens and cropland destroying and eating vegetables and landscapes.
– They make their homes in fields, along fences, near building foundations, or at the tree bases. They leave mounds of soil at the dig sites.– Are slow runners they hurry into their dens when they sense any danger– Their primary predators are foxes, hawks, bobcats, coyotes, humans, and dogs.– They are primarily active during the day and feed early in the morning
– They are strict herbivores. They eat a variety of vegetables that include beans, carrot tops, peas, soybeans, alfalfa, and grass.– They love sunbathing when it is warm– They enter hibernation when winter is about to start. There is a celebration day called Groundhog Day when they emerge from their hiding places.
Groundhogs are considered a nuisance because they cause extensive damage to farms, homes, and crop fields from their feeding and burrowing habits. As they burrow they destroy building foundations, cause electrical outages from gnawing on underground wires, and create unwanted lawns.
1. FencingA fence is one the easiest natural ways to keep the groundhogs from burrowing your yard.2. Introduce Food SourcesBecause they are beneficial to the environment, it would be best to introduce food sources that will send them off your garden.
3. Sanitize Your YardGroundhogs visit your garden once they smell vegetation, especially ripe fruits.4. Use Offensive SmellsThere are certain smells that groundhogs detest.
– Lavender – Plant them around the garden because they are offensive to the groundhogs.– Cayenne pepper – Simply pour cayenne pepper close to the groundhog’s house– Garlic – Crush some and spread the paste around the areas of the garden that you want the groundhogs to avoid.– Chives, lemon, balm, basil, rosemary, thyme, and oregano are all disliked by the groundhogs.5. Use Sonic Groundhog Repellent
Despite being a big nuisance to homeowners, it is possible to coexist with these rodents. A little patience and natural ways go a long way in keeping them away until the wildlife agency picks them up.