How To Get Rid Of Groundhogs Humanely (2024)

Groundhogs dig tunnels about a foot wide. If you notice such tunnels in your yard, especially around fences, trees or the foundation of your house, it is likely that you have a groundhog infestation. There will also be large mounds of soil alongside the entrances to these tunnels.

You should also look for scratch marks and claw marks on any fruit trees you have in your backyard, as groundhogs are likely to attack those.

Groundhogs will destroy pretty much any vegetation they find in your yard. You’re especially vulnerable if you happen to grow soybeans, alfalfa, clover, peas, beans, clover, lettuce or broccoli. These are groundhogs’ favorite foods, so much so that they’ve been known to devour their seedlings before the plants have a chance to grow.

But they’ll also happily chow down on flowers, berries, leaves, twigs, bark, bugs and fruit, essentially making no backyard in America safe from an onslaught of groundhogs. They are most likely to do damage during October, right before they enter their months-long hibernation period. During this time, they are able to consume 20 percent of their body weight in a single day, making them insatiable and desperate for food.

1. Use Hair Clippings in Burrows

The next time you trim your beard or get a haircut, put the cuttings in mesh bags and place them near any burrows you find in your yard. The scent will convince them that humans are nearby, which will make them scurry.

2. Use Castor Oil to Cast Them Aside

Groundhogs despise the smell of castor oil, so you can get rid of them by mixing one part castor oil with three parts water in a spray bottle and spraying the mixture in and around the burrows in your yard.

3. Don’t Waste Your Pets’ Waste

Groundhogs regard dogs and cats as predators, so if you sprinkle dog urine or used cat litter around groundhog burrows, they’ll leave the area immediately. It’s icky but effective.

4. Use Spices to Your Advantage

Groundhogs dislike the smell of red pepper, cayenne pepper, lavender and garlic. Sprinkle dried versions of one or more of these around and in any burrows you find in your yard. Additionally, you can mix them with water in a spray bottle and spray it onto your vegetables and any other vegetation that they may find attractive.

5. On the Fence

Try installing in-ground fencing a few inches below the ground to ensure that groundhogs don’t make Swiss cheese of your yard.

6. Ethical Traps

There are plenty of ethical groundhog traps on the market, and though employing one and relocating the groundhogs is quite a process, especially if you have many groundhogs in your yard, it may be the best option for you if you object to extermination. You can use their favorite fruits, like cantaloupe, strawberries, blueberries and peaches, as bait to sweeten the deal.

WARNING: Some of these types are lethal and may not be an available option in certain states.

1. Repellants

For between $75 and $100, according to a handful of pest control websites, a professional will spray groundhog-repellent chemicals around areas of your yard that may appeal to groundhogs, like vegetation and gardens. Most contractors will attempt to do this humanely, using non-toxic chemicals, but if they don’t take, they may resort to the heavy-duty stuff. This treatment lasts up to four weeks,

2. Live Trap and Relocation

For between $150 and $300, a professional will use an ethical trap to catch and release the groundhogs found on your property. The groundhogs will be released to a habitable area at least ten miles from your home.

3. Fumigation

For between $150 and $300, a professional will seal the groundhogs’ burrows found in your yard and pump them full of gas so as to fumigate the groundhogs. In some cases, however, the burrows are too extensive to seal entirely, causing gas to escape and allowing the groundhogs to survive. At the very least, fumigation renders the burrows an inhospitable environment for groundhogs and encourages them to disperse.

4. Lethal Traps

For between $100 and $150, a professional will set up a lethal groundhog trap in your yard that eliminates the pests once and for all. Legally, companies are only permitted to do this if the groundhogs have done significant damage to your property, and then, only in certain states.

The cost of treating a small groundhog infestation is between $100 and $200 according to a variety of national pest control company rates. The cost of treating a medium-sized groundhog infestation is between $200 and $400. The cost of treating a large groundhog infestation is between $400 and $600.