HOW TO GET RID OF GROUND HOGS?

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FELLOW COUNTRYSIDERS, I LIVE ON A 128 ACRE FARM AND AM BEING OVER RUN WITH GROUND HOGS. THEY ARE EVERYWHERE. ANY COUNTRY METHODS OF GETTING RID OF THEM ONCE AND FOR ALL? I'M NOT THAT GOOD WITH A GUN, AND BESIDES THERE ARE SEVERAL RIGHT AROUND OUR NATURAL GAS WELLS! YES, I KNOW, THEY ARE CUTE - BUT WHEN THEY ARE ON SOMEONE ELSE'S PROPERTY! ANY METHODS OF MAKING THEM MOVE OR KILLING THEM I WILL APPRECIATE. THANKS IN ADVANCE!

-- MICHAEL W. SMITH (KIRKLBB@PENN.COM), April 23, 2000

Answers

I would appreciate some help with this, too. We don't have such a massive problem, but the one or two that live in the pile of boulders behind our house every year have made a practice of decimating the kitchen garden right by the house. They haven't discovered the bigger garden a little farther away -- so far. Over the years my husband has shot three or four of them, we frequently see them out the back window (my daughter spotted one just a few minutes ago), but they are very alert to any sound of someone coming out of the house. One that my husband shot, he got by opening the back window and waiting patiently and very quietly for the critters to show themselves. We can't dig into the boulder pile (dynamite?!?) and it has lots of cracks and openings -- ideal woodchuck housing. Anyone have any ideas -- we can't keep a dog in the yard here, as we are too close to the road to let a dog loose.

-- Kathleen Sanderson (stonycft@worldpath.net), April 23, 2000.

Death By Percussion There are an explosive device known as M-80's or Silver Salutes. Dropping these down the holes is a highly effective method of killing G/hogs. These are available at farm supply houses but you must show 50 types of I D's to purchase them. They are also sold at black market gun shows and firework stands. They come in boxes of 144(a gross) for about 25 bucks. They are easyto buy in southern states and harder the further north you go. Be Careful ! 1, M-80 equals 1/8 of a stick of tnt.

-- Joel Rosen (Joel681@webtv.net), April 23, 2000.

There are a bunch of good sportsman/hunters in your area (again, where ARE you?) that would be not only willing but happy to help. They're called "varmint hunters" and the more challenging the better. If you've got the woodchucks at a long distance, say hundreds of yards, they'll come in with the .22-250 or the .25-06, or the .220 Swift or something that will reach from here to when Clinton last told the truth. Closer varmints will take lesser armament. Call your local gun club, or rod & gun club, or fish and game club. There are guys and gals there willing to help. Lacking success with the above suggestion, which I deem unlikely, go to the feed store and get "gas bombs". Unfortunately, M-80's aren't available around here (Maine), and the gas bombs cost @ $4 a pop. But they do work. GL!

-- Brad (homefixer@mix-net.net), April 23, 2000.

I, too, would like the answer to this one. I spent all last summer trying to get rid of one very big one that lives under my stable which is right beside the garden. We lost everything in the garden to him. I can tell you the things that don't work. Cayenne pepper on the plants, moth balls and don't even bother to buy one of those have a heart traps. I watched while he went into the trap, it slammed shut and then as I approached the trap to pick it up and move him away, he lunged at the bottom of the trap door and promptly pushed it open. The trap was not malfunctioning. Their feet are just too strong and they can push it open. If you are handy and can figure out a way for the trap to lock more securely when it is sprung then this method would work because I was able to get him and one other one that was in my front yard to walk right into the trap by making a path of lettuce and baby carrots that went from outside the cage then into the front of the cage and then all the way to the back of the cage. They are not really afraid of the trap and will go in and set it off but I just couldn't keep them in there. I even tried using a brick to fall down with it but it still wasn't enough. It has to lock somehow. If someone can figure out how to rig the trap so it will lock tight, I would sure love to hear it because I would use it on my trap to get rid of the bugger. Otherwise, we are going to have to try to shoot it and I'm not crazy about that idea.

-- Colleen (pyramidgreatdanes@erols.com), April 23, 2000.

As much as it pains me to say so, the only effective way I have ever heard of is to shoot them.Brad is 100% correct...my husband and his buddies get together and go out to the farms at the request of the owners and shoot the groundhogs when the population gets too high.It makes me sad because I am a goof,but I sympathize with the farmers/gardeners..what else can you do? Nothing, as far as I know.

-- Lesley chasko (martchas@gateway.net), April 23, 2000.


Last summer i had a groundhog in my berry patch and i had read somewhere to put doggie-doo in their entrance hole.After doing that i never saw any signs of him.It's worth a try,after all you have to do something with the doggie-doo anyway.

-- James (Raskyfish@aol.com), April 23, 2000.

James, I tried the doggie-doo trick as well. I own eight great danes and finding a supply was not a problem but it did not work. Maybe it was because I couldn't find all of the holes. I'll try it again this year if you say you had luck with it since I have a ready supply. Thanks for mentioning it and I'll let you know if it works this time.

-- Colleen (pyramidgreatdanes@erols.com), April 23, 2000.

I read somewhere that if you could put some dead animal down the hole it will drive the nasty thing out. I think this works, shot one, I'm pretty sure I hit it, ran under the barn and I haven't seen one since. The barn sure smelled for a while though. Also, human urine supposedly will drive wild animal away. Deer in the garden, etc. If your comfortable with doing this (maybe under the cover of darkness!) it may help. Makes sense to me since animals mark their territory why shouldn't humans.

-- Betsy (betsyk@pathwaynet.com), April 24, 2000.

When I lived in western NY I had the problem and they would make huge holes that the front tire of the tractor would drop in and give me a real jar. At the feed store you could buy "Sulphur Smoke Bombs" they look like big firecarckers, you light one of those and stick it down the hole and quickly cover it with a rock dirt or something, I used an old wash basin, it killes them. One thing to keep in mind tho, is they usually have more than on entrance/exit, it worked for me!

-- Hendo (OR) (redgate@echoweb.net), April 24, 2000.

Brad's solution is probably the best. That's about the only way to eliminate the problem for the time being. There's usually a group of varmint hunters in just about every rural community that will take care of the groundhogs if you invite them on your property. We've got a guy in this area that will eliminate problem coyotes if requested. Those varmints are a real challange. Smoke bombs, dog doo etc. work at times, but not always. High velocity varmint rounds work every time.

-- Steve in TN (lynswim@mindspring.com), April 24, 2000.


The human urine trick worked for us. Just pour (or aim !) it into and around the groundhogs holes. Sometimes it takes a week for them to leave but ours left and only tried to come back once. As soon as we saw signs of them we just used the urine again and they left. They were living under the cement floor of our barn when we moved here 6 yrs ago. They dug so many tunnels the floor caved in. Tried this and it worked. Would'nt hurt to try.

-- Judi (sheepspin@aol.com), April 24, 2000.

We have had this problem as well. I love reading some of the other options to getting rid of them. We have an Australian Shepherd and she managed to get rid of all but the biggest one (when he stood up he was as tall and maybe taller than the dog) and the two of them had a show down on the road, but I couldn't shoot because of the neighbors house being in the line of site. The old fart is still around and we see him on occassion. He had a tunnel from a small field clear into the barn (several hundred feet). We know because the cats would use it once in a while. We closed that one up once we put horses in that field.

They are a problem and they seem to keep coming back too. Modern Farm catalog has the sulphur sticks that someone mentioned. Between those, the dog and the shotgun, we have kept our population under control, but I would like to try some of the other suggestions.

-- beckie (sunshine_horses@yahoo.com), April 25, 2000.


Okay, I've tried the doggie doo trick again last night. I went around and found, I think, all of the holes and since I didn't have any shortage of poop, I made sure those holes had plenty. Now I'm going to sit back and wait. I really hope this works because I hate to shoot the poor guy and besides we don't own a gun so I would have to find someone who would be willing to come over.

-- Colleen (pyramidgreatdanes@erols.com), April 25, 2000.

When we had occasion to delete some critter from the face of the earth and we couldn't shoot'm---if it was away from buildings some we would take a 20 lb cylinder of propane and open the valve just a little bit-tip it over and let liquid run into the hole. All the other holes had to be closed off and as soon as we got tired of this we'd close this last hole up. it works on rats too! I've seen'm when something "teched'm" off and dirt would fly way up in the sky---- along with the critters! Not very good if you've got neighbors close by-or humane society folks, or city folks. It's gruesome but it works. Matt. 24:44

-- hoot gibson (hoot@otbnet.com), April 25, 2000.

Hello,

Hummm well..... You can try instant potatos,, you know those powder flakes... make sure you do it when there is no chance of rain. Poor those down the holes. They love to eat them, they will eat so much then run to get some water,, and well,,, it swells so fast you get GH, with mash potatos. :O) Another one that can work well,,, peppermint chewing gum,,, They will eat so much it will gum up their insides and they will not be able to eat. But make sure you do not touch the gum before you put it in the holes. Good luck!!

-- Bergere (autumnhaus@aol.com), April 26, 2000.



Couple of additional thoughts:1.CB Longs[22 caliber]are quite quiet [like a heavy duty stapler] ,will chamber in a 22 and are OK within 25-30yds.For quiet elimination,a crossbow with broadhead tipped bolts may also work. 2.gasoline poured into tunnel[block other exits],allowed to vaporize,then ignited. 3.[per a Mennonite farmer] dip chunks of apple into automotive antifreeze and drop into chuck holes.Chucks will eat it and [ultimately] croak.Sweet taste may attract other animals.Not pretty but.... 4. size 220 or larger "Conibear"traps-kills by crushing the ribs when the critter passes through it.Set into entrances of the holes.Be careful setting them. 5.Leghold traps securely anchored.When the critter is caught,then shoot or bash it. As noted by other authors,if the chucks are in a field with safe lanes of fire,call any of the local varmint hunters.They'll eliminate [at least some of]the varmints. Hope some of the above helps.

-- Karl (kbechler@frontiernet.net), April 27, 2000.

My dog killed ours with one quick shake, haven't seen one for over 5 years. My mother-in-law had luck using used cat litter down the holes reapeatedly. We actually sent it in 5 gallon buckets since she had no cats.

-- Anne (HealthyTouc101@hotmail.com), April 27, 2000.

Yesterday my Australian Shepherd (mentioned in earlier post) was going absolutely crazy last evening and when we checked she had a ground hog trapped in a pile of phone poles. We were able to get on top of the poles and shoot her. I wouldn't trade that dog for anything. She is really good at getting rid of varmits. Now if she would just quit arguing with the skunk.

-- beckie (sunshine_horses@yahoo.com), April 27, 2000.

I'm a hunter, live in PA. I will help you if you live near me. I live in southcentral PA. Thanks

Mark

-- Mark (msb27@pa.net), April 29, 2000.


SOME VERY INTERESTING ANSWERS! I LIVE IN NORTH WEST, PA IN A SMALL TOWN CALLED SUMMERVILLE. IT IS NOT VERY FAR FROM PUNXSUTAWNEY - YOU KNOW, THE FAMOUS PUNXSUTAWNEY PHIL THE GROUNDHOG. WELL, I THINK HE MAY HAVE SOME FUNERAL VIEWINGS TO GO TO SOON! THANKS FOR THE GREAT ANSWERS. I JUST TRIED A NEW METHOD. GET ALL YOUR DEAD TREE BRANCHES, BRUSH, ALL BURNABLE ITEMS AND MAKE A NICE BIG PILE RIGHT OVER THE MAIN HOLE. CLOSE UP ALL THE OTHERS AND LIGHT THE PILE ON FIRE. MY PILE WAS STILL HOT THE NEXT DAY AND I WOULD IMAGINE SOME OF THE HEAT WOULD GO DOWN THE HOLE OR AT LEAST NO OXYGEN WOULD GET IN FOR A WHILE. I'LL LET YOU KNOW HOW THIS METHOD WORKED, AND I'M SURE I'LL BE TRYING SOME OF THESE OTHER METHODS! THANKS AGAIN.

-- MICHAEL W. SMITH (KIRKLBB@PENN.COM), April 29, 2000.

Heres another answer, if anybody is still reading this thread that is, Im from western Oregon near the Portland area (now is IS in the Portland area, grumble) and groundhogs are everywhere, I remember my grandpa getting rid of a field of the damn things by lighting a few roadside automotive flares and stuffing them down their holes. It seemed to work, after that no more new mounds showed up and the existing ones eventually eroded down from the rain. I think the flares burn with a toxic gas and he basically just gassed them dead.

Dave

-- Dave (transmach@hotmail.com), April 30, 2000.


Get a havarhart trap and set it around five feet from the entrance on it's path. Then build a wire cage around the hole at least a foot away and then toward the trap,narrowing it down to the entrance making sure he cannot get around the trap. Also do not forget to cover the top of the enclurse. Works every time.

-- Mary (marwel@microserve.net), November 24, 2000.

I got rid of my the easy way ..........the critter fell into my swimming pool and darn it the boy forgot to have any swimming lessons!!!!!!!! Such a shame, well now I have another and darn it no pool.Oh well I guess I will use some of your ideas>>>>>> yours the spook

-- The Spook (Spook1@surfnetinc.com), March 11, 2001.

Michael W. and Kathleen, some good answers so far. As far as the havahart traps of 10 years ago, and the havahart traps of TODAY, there has been a major change in the door mechanism. The newer style traps have a STRONG spring-type door mechanism that THROWS it shut tightly. At least check them out. (But not from the local bubba's hardware store... They might not have sold but 3 of the OLDER style traps in the past 10 years, and that's the only inventory they know.) I buy several new traps, every few years, and they REALLY have improved them. Another thing to try down the hole is something I'll share through personal e-mail, due to children reading something else they don't need to know.

-- Action Dude (theactiondude@yahoo.com), March 11, 2001.

id say for the ones near the natural gas try a higher power air rifle to scare them off, but not so powerful that it will puncture the tank. also i hear that you can make a good shrapnel gdog grenade like this: take a TENNIS BALL filled with BLACK POWDER and whatever DEBRIS (shrapnel) you want once this is done wrap it in ALUMINUM/TIN FOIL then make a FUSE of some kind rig the fuse and your done. after your done light them and chuck them down the holes, i have never tried it but i hear it either kills them or scares the shit out of them. Good Luck!

-- J Hink (jon__30@hotmail.com), April 03, 2001.

As much as I like to shoot the little s___ ,I learned something from my grandfather, get some calcium carbide( type used in old caolminer lanterns) put 2-3 rocks in dixie cup, add little water place in hole plug all entrances, wait for white smoke to start coming out of ground, throw firecracker into smoke, and enjoy BOOM, bye,bye g-hog, get holes plugged except last one before mixing components..

-- brian white (whitbr@hotmail.com), May 20, 2001.

Lots of good answers but I've got one under my porch, so no gas, no explosives, and I'll have to rip up floor boards to use doggie doo or urine. The thing was cute until it had six cute babies and decided my new garden was a buffet. Now I'm mad. Any ideas for a hole next to the house? I'm about 3 days away from ripping up the porch.

-- Susan (slaun@hotmail.com), May 23, 2001.

This is all very nice, but I live WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF PHILADELPHIA, PA. Granted, it's a country-like setting. Legally, you cannot fire a gun inside city limits (Ha Ha, legally that is). Groundhogs are under a shed, so no bombs, C4, firecrackers, etc.

Every one I phone says "Aw, why hurt the purty things? You have to promise not to kill them."

So, we'll try the urine, gum, mashed potatoes, etc.

-- Miriam R. McKeegan (mimmluzinski@hotmail.com), June 12, 2001.


If you can't get yourself some M80s, do this. Pour at least one full 5 gallon bucket of water in the hole, best to do this late in the evening. Half the time they'll come rushing out within a minute or so and you can let the dogs get em or plug em full of buckshot. Another way is fill all the holes you see with some straw or other burnables and light them all at the same time. If they don't choke to death on the smoke, they'll come running out and you can give the varmit a round of buckshot.

-- April (atobias@yahoo.com), June 13, 2001.

A few years ago, a bunch of us decided to create a community garden. The spot we chose was directly across the road from the House of Corrections and right in the middle of a ground hog subdivision. As soon as the garden started to grow, the ground hogs started chowing down. About 4:30 a.m. one morning, three of us decided to eliminate the ground hogs with gasoline soaked rags stuffed down the holes. In the process of stuffing the rags and lighting them, I nearly got my whole face blown off. It was very amusing to us to be running around with flaming torches like something out of a Frankenstein movie. It took the House of Corrections people over an hour to come down and investigate. I lost my eyelashes and the ground hogs still won.

-- Dianne in Mass (dianne.bone@usa.net), June 13, 2001.

I to am suffering with 2 ground hogs. They started digging about 3 days ago and now have a 6 foot tunnel. My husband does not want to kill it and as well fed it a couple of times. I to just want to drive it away for fear of babies. Will the potatos kill the little guys?

-- Monica McCottry (mmccottry@yahoo.com), July 02, 2001.

I had a very similar problem. The holes were so large as to present a clear danger to anyone walking in our yard. Almost broke a leg walking one snowy day.

I asked a number of KY farmers how do deal with this problem. They all suggested fire arms but this method was not a viable option to us because of zoning laws.

One suggested connecting a car exhaust to flexible tubing and running it down one hole while blocking the other holes. This method failed probably because I ran the car for only thirty minutes. It presents a real danger of starting a grass fire and I would discourage it.

I also tried a test with gasoline soaked rags and found this to be extremely dangerous as one of the previous individuals noted. This method should not be used as it presents a danger to life.

Charcoal lighter fluid soaked leaves stuffed into all holes solved the problem . Be sure to clear all dry grass from around the holes to preclude starting a grass fire. Have you garden hose or a barrel of water available as the leaves will burn for 30 minutes or more.

-- C. R. Sachatello (crs277@cs.com), July 04, 2001.


I live on an acre in rural suburbia. So no 22s for me.

I've found that a pump BB gun can work well. I managed to hit one in the heart the other day. It was dead in 20 seconds. Not a pretty 20 seconds, however, and I'm not sure I could do it again.

But with pellets and fewer pumps, I can at least irritate the bejeesus out of them and maybe derive some satisfaction of of that.

-- Randy Crawford (crwfrd@umich.edu), July 06, 2001.


I would suggest putting misc. fire crackers in their hole. But if you don't want to hurt him, next time you see him run after him screaming like a madman.

Chris

-- Chris (pearce@exis.net), July 09, 2001.


Well son, the way our great-granddaddies did it, was to shoot em, skin em, and roast em. I understand they was tolerable good eatin, too.

(grinning like a possum)

-- daffodyllady (daffodyllady@yahoo.com), July 09, 2001.


I've got ground hogs too and they can hear you coming a mile away. So what I've just tried is take a wide wouth jar or glass and pour about 2 cups of bleach in it then take and add 2 cups Works toilet bowl cleaner into the bleach. Make sure you hold it at arms length this is nasty stuff. Pour this down the hole after you've plugged all but one, then cover or plug the last one. I bet I don't see any ground hogs for a long time. This is probably not as exciting as shooting or blowing them up but if you want it quick and quiet this should work.

-- Jim Schrock (services@ligtel.com), April 18, 2002.

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