Top Critter Control Tips for Nuisance Groundhogs

Woodchucks or groundhogs, by which name you call them does not matter. They are the same animal, and one that happens to be quite destructive to properties if not properly abated. If you are spotting groundhogs on or around your property, or have been dealing with such activity already, it is time to educate yourself on the top critter control tips for getting rid of nuisance groundhogs.

Groundhog Control Indianapolis Indiana 317-847-6409
Groundhog Control Indianapolis Indiana 317-847-6409

Groundhog Control Tips

Groundhogs, or woodchucks, are medium-large mammals that belong to the family Sciuridae, which is a group of large ground squirrels, called marmots. In fact, they are the largest species of marmot, weighing up to 13 pounds. As big as they are, you would think they are easy to spot, but groundhogs know their way around a yard.

You see, groundhogs are notorious diggers that create comprehensive tunnel systems equipped with chambers, exits, and levels, all within the ground. Hence the name, ground-hog. A lone groundhog is capable of displacing up to 700 pounds of dirt! Can you imagine? This behavior wreaks havoc on lawns, gardens, and in some cases, foundations of homes or even banks of streams, creeks, and ponds.

What Attracts Groundhogs to Your Place?

Without proper abatement, groundhogs can destroy a property from the inside-out. The best way to get rid of groundhogs is to understand why they are attracted to your property in the first place, then eliminate these amenities they so fervently seek. Mostly, groundhogs are attracted to plentiful food sources, water, and safe shelter.

Yards that are more cluttered than others are prime targets for nuisance wildlife like groundhogs. This clutter gives them privacy to live and reproduce as they please. Access to water is another big attraction for groundhogs, like streams, creeks, ponds, and lakes. Properties near such bodies of water are more prone to nuisance wildlife activity.

The most important part of groundhog removal and control is safety. Never attempt to harm, trap, or kill a groundhog under any circumstances. Furthermore, never use toxic chemicals or products that can harm wildlife and the surrounding environment.

How to Safely Get Rid of Woodchucks

There are a few methods that work well to thwart and mitigate nuisance woodchuck activity. You can implement some DIY strategies, such as environmental modification or non-toxic repellents. But in serious cases, it is necessary to hire a licensed and insured wildlife control company that has the proper resources and permits to safely get the job done. In some cases, groundhogs require transportation to another, faraway natural habitat. A professional critter control contractor can provide this service.

Environmental Modification

Remove or secure areas of your property that are attracting groundhogs. Clear out the clutter, cut down tall grasses, and consider installing a deep-ground fencing system. Next, eliminate or obstruct access to their food source. Groundhogs are herbivores, which means they eat plants. Gardens, crops, and flowerbeds will be their target, so fence these up or perimeter them with a non-toxic repellent spray.

Groundhogs like to keep their teeth sharp too, so they regularly sharpen them. They prefer soft, rotted wood structures for this. Old tree stumps, play sets, log piles, rotted decking, and similar isolated wood structures are usually their first choices. Eliminating or obstructing access to these attractions can also divert groundhogs away from your place.

Would you like some trusted, professional assistance with getting rid of groundhogs in Indiana? Contact Modern Wildlife Control at 317-847-6409 for safe and effective animal trapping and removal services for groundhogs in Indianapolis, Indiana.

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Learn Why Nuisance Animals are Attracted to Your Property

How to Solve Nuisance Groundhog Problem

In light of the recent annual occasion of Groundhog’s Day, and although he didn’t see his shadow this year, let us still discuss this common nuisance animal endured by thousands of Hoosiers all across the state. Most people go years before realizing they have a groundhog problem on their property. This is likely due to the prospect that many people are not even sure what a groundhog is or what they look like. Well, it is time to clear up the confusion, and show you the best way to solve your woodchuck problem once and for all!

Continue reading to learn what you should know about groundhogs, and how to get rid of them if they become a problem for you.

Indianapolis Groundhog Removal Service
Indianapolis Groundhog Removal Service 317-847-6409

Groundhogs are Also Called Woodchucks

Groundhogs do not really have an appealing name; do they? When you put “ground” and “hog” together, you don’t really paint an attractive visual image. The truth is, they are part of the rodent family, so this particular mental image is probably not too far off. As children, many of us remember the riddle, “how much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?” Well, groundhogs are woodchucks!

Groundhogs are the largest members of the Sciuridae family, which is reserved for medium-sized rodents like squirrels. Adults are an average of 16 to 20 inches long, and weigh between 5 to 12 pounds.  They have brownish tan fur, sharp claws, and long tails, usually 6 inches in length. In the wild, they can live up to 10 years, but generally have lifespans that average between 3 and 6 years. As herbivores, groundhogs can eat roughly one-third of their body weight in vegetation each day; however, they are known to eat insects at times.

Groundhogs are Known as an “Edge Species”

Known as edge species, groundhogs like to linger in transitional areas where forest meets a well-vegetated open field or meadow. As a diurnal species, they are active during the day, and spend most of their time underground in complex burrow systems. Dry soil in good condition is a prime target area for groundhogs because it makes for the best burrowing. It is common to find groundhog burrows near fence lines, houses, hedgerows, and lined trees. Their digging can be quite destructive to residential and commercial lawns, making them quite to nuisance to many.

What to Do About Nuisance Groundhogs

Common signs of a groundhog problem include more than just mounds of soil and visible lawn burrowing. You may also notice chewing on garden vegetables, damaged crops, chewed irrigation lines, and paw prints in soil. If you see signs of groundhog burrowing or activity, your first step is to contact a local and trusted Indianapolis wildlife control company for a full-property inspection. They retain the proper permits, training, and technologies to accurately identify a woodchuck infestation, and recommended the best course of action to get rid of them, safely and humanely.

Professional Indianapolis Groundhog Removal Services at the Right Price

Whether you call them groundhogs or woodchucks, these nuisance animals are highly destructive and should be abated as soon as possible. Call Modern Wildlife Control at 317-847-6409 for groundhog removal and control service in Indianapolis, Indiana and its surrounding counties. Our Indianapolis wildlife control operators are standing by, waiting to help you get rid of groundhogs at a price you can afford, and in a time frame that is convenient for you. Contact us to request a free estimate or free advice, anytime. We also offer dead animal removal and emergency after-hours animal removal services.

Modern Wildlife Control Indianapolis
Modern Wildlife Control Indianapolis