You are probably familiar with groundhogs because of the American tradition of “Groundhog Day,” when a groundhog coming out of their burrow is meant to signify that winter is over.
Groundhogs (Marmota monax) belong to the same family as squirrels and prairie dogs. They are essentially large rodents that create burrow systems in the ground.
Groundhogs are found all across the United States in open areas like fields, forests, grassy areas along roads, and rocky outcrops or mountainous areas. One of the main signs of a groundhog population is noticing their burrows. Groundhog burrow entrances tend to be 10 to 12 inches in diameter.
While it is cool to spot a groundhog, you might not want them living on your property. Groundhog holes can mess up your yard and make it difficult to grow gardens or plants. Additionally, they are wild animals that you might not want around your pets or children.
Thankfully, companies like Nuisance Wildlife Rangers can help you solve a groundhog infestation. If you are looking for groundhog removal near you, you’ve come to the right place.
In this article, you will learn:
- What attracts groundhogs to your property
- What kind of damage groundhogs can do to your yard
- How to get rid of groundhogs
- Where to find wildlife control for a groundhog problem
Why Do Groundhogs Come Onto Your Property?
There are two main reasons you might find groundhogs on your property: access to food and shelter.
First, groundhogs are herbivores, which means they only eat plants. Groundhogs are known to eat a wide variety of plants and fruits, like carrots, celery, lettuce, broccoli, apples, corn, peas, strawberries, and blueberries. If you have any of these plants in your yard or garden, you might find a groundhog roaming your property in search of food.
Next, groundhogs are always on the search for a good place to burrow. They like slightly sloped or elevated areas to ensure that their burrows do not become flooded during rainstorms. Additionally, groundhogs might burrow in an area with soft and loose soil, as it is easier to dig than wet dirt.
Another place groundhogs might seek shelter is in your crawlspace. To prevent groundhogs, you might want to create an electric fence around your garden and close any entrance holes that would allow them to get in your crawlspace.
Can Groundhogs Cause Damage to Your Yard?
Groundhogs can cause a ton of damage to your yard, garden, and even your home. They like to create holes or burrows in the ground, which can dig up your garden or affect the structural integrity of sheds, fencing, or even your house.
Other types of damage that groundhogs can inflict on your property include:
- Damaged lawns, flowerbeds, and gardens
- Tripping hazards from their holes and burrows
- Damaged underground utilities like electrical wires or pipes
- Transmitting diseases like ticks, fleas, and rabies to your household pets
- Attracting other wildlife like birds of prey, coyotes, foxes, bobcats, and rattlesnakes to your yard
If you are dealing with a groundhog infestation, you might be tempted to try to remove them yourself. While groundhogs are not usually a threat, you should avoid provoking them. Instead, contact a wildlife removal company that can set groundhog traps and relocate them humanely.
How to Get Rid of Groundhogs
If you are worried about groundhogs coming onto your property, the first thing you should do is prevent them from getting into your gardens. They are attracted by leafy greens and fruits, which means you might want to create an electrical fence around your garden.
If you already have groundhogs roaming your property, you are probably wondering what you can do. While it is possible to buy traps and set them up on your own, you might not have success without experience in trapping wildlife. Additionally, you will probably have a hard time figuring out what to do with the groundhogs if you manage to trap them.
For these reasons, the best thing to do when you have a groundhog infestation is to contact a professional wildlife removal service. These experts have experience in trapping and relocating groundhogs, ensuring that you and the animals stay safe at the same time. Companies like Nuisance Wildlife Rangers will also help you set up protections to prevent them from returning in the future.
Where to Find Groundhog Removal Near Me
If you are looking for groundhog removal in your area, you’ve come to the right place. Nuisance Wildlife Rangers has years of experience in helping people in the state of Florida resolve wildlife issues on their properties. Whether groundhogs are wreaking havoc at your business or home, we can help you trap and remove them.
Nuisance Wildlife Rangers can help you resolve your groundhog problem all across the state of Florida. Examples of the areas we serve include:
- Boca Grande
- Boca Raton
- Bradenton
- Brandon
- Captiva Island
- Cape Coral
- Clearwater
- Coral Springs
- Delray Beach
- Dunedin
- Estero
- Fort Myers
- Fort Lauderdale
- Gulf Stream
- Hollywood
- Homestead
- Jupiter
- Largo
- Miami
- Naples
- Palm Beach Gardens
- Plant City
- Safety Harbor
- Tampa
- Tarpon Springs
- West Palm Beach
- And more!
Get Connected to a Groundhog Removal Service Near You
If you or a loved one is dealing with a groundhog problem in Florida, Nuisance Wildlife Rangers are here to help. We use humane and ethical approaches to wildlife control, which means we will never harm the groundhogs during the trapping process.
Contact us today for more information on our groundhog removal services near you.