Celebrity groundhog Punxsutawney Phil will make his annual debut on February 2, but whether or not he sees his shadow, come springtime, his groundhog cousins (also known as woodchucks or whistle-pigs) are sure to follow his lead and awake from their long winter naps. Phil and his brethren may also set about plundering gardens, digging burrows where they're not wanted, and otherwise coming into conflict with their human neighbors.
There is an irony dug into our relationship with groundhogs. We humans have made a star out of Phil, and forged a mythology out of the byplay between his shadow and the coming of spring. Then, just a few weeks later, we curse his cousins for helping themselves to our garden vegetables.
Groundhogs don't have to be the enemy of our gardens, and trapping them won't solve the problems between humans and these large, likable rodents. As long as there's habitat available, other groundhogs will quickly fill the vacated niche. Trapping and relocating groundhogs may also lead to starving young left behind. It is much more effective to simply exclude groundhogs from areas where they're not wanted. A few easy-to-do measures in the garden can help humanely discourage groundhog damage, and encourage a peaceful coexistence with our wild neighbors.
Gardens
- Groundhogs are fearful of humans and generally cautious. To discourage frequent visits to your garden, try adding objects that will blow around in the wind, such as beach balls, party balloons, or reflective Mylar tape.
- Prevent groundhogs from entering your garden by installing a simple chicken wire or mesh fence. Make the top portion 3 to 4 feet high, and bend the bottom portion of the fence in an "L shape and extend it another 6 to 12 inches outward, away from the garden. Pin this portion securely to the ground using landscaping staples. This will discourage digging. Loosely wire the top portion to fence posts as groundhogs do not like to climb unstable fences.
- A simple two-wire electric fence can also effectively discourage groundhogs. Place one strand 1 to 4 inches above the ground, and the other 8 to 9 inches high. You might also try installing a one wire, 4-inch high electric fence in front of a non-electric fence. This can be very effective in deterring groundhogs as well as other unwanted garden visitors, such as raccoons.
Burrows
Groundhogs hibernate from October through February, and their breeding season begins soon after they wake up. If you must evict a groundhog from a burrow under your house, porch, or other building, do so shortly after they've emerged from hibernation or wait until late summer, after the young have been weaned and are living on their own.
These humane harassment techniques will encourage groundhogs to move along:
- Partially dig out the entrances to the burrow (there are usually several) and clear away surrounding vegetation.
- Put urine-soaked kitty litter (the clumping kind works well) inside all burrow entrances. The strong odor often causes them to vacate the premises.
- Place a one-way door at the main entrance to the burrow. This lets the groundhog safely exit but not return.
After the animal has left the burrow, loosely pack the entrances with grass or similar material. If it remains undisturbed for three to five days, you can assume the burrow is unoccupied. Permanently close it by excavating the areas around the entrances and burying square sections of heavy gauge welded wire at least 1 foot deep across all entrances.
Keep in mind that groundhogs can be very persistent. Using olfactory cues, they will often revisit the burrow site for as long as two years later. But should they try to reopen the entrances, they will be defeated by the wire panels.
