Groundhogs are one of the most troublesome wildlife. Groundhogs can tear down your yard by digging holes and burrows. Why? Why do groundhogs dig, dig, and dig? It’s important to understand the activities of groundhogs in your yard. Why they do it. We can help you with that! Critterfence has compiled everything you need to know about groundhogs digging under your yard.
What is a Groundhog?
Groundhogs (Marmota monox), also called woodchucks, belong to a group of large ground squirrels known as marmots. Groundhogs are the largest marmots and can measure 17-24 inches in length and weigh up to 13 pounds. Their tails can be as long as 6 inches!
These creatures are large and have a thick, plump body. They are also covered in dense, tan or reddish-brown fur. The four prominent, chisel-like incisors of adult groundhogs are often visible in their mouths. This is what gives them the “overbite.”
Burrows: What & Why Groundhogs Dig
Groundhogs are best-known for digging. Groundhogs dig with their special, shovel-like claws. Groundhogs are extremely skilled at digging. One groundhog can burrow up to 700 pounds.
Groundhog burrows can be as large as 66 feet in length and contain multiple chambers, exits, levels, and levels. These are the places groundhogs spend most of their time. Groundhogs, unlike other marmots are solitary animals. They live in burrows alone and only search for mates.
Groundhogs are in my yard!
Groundhogs that burrow in your yard or nearby indicate they are getting what they need. Groundhogs love to burrow close to food sources like gardens and farms. Groundhogs love digging their way under fences and barriers to get at your vegetables and flowers. Groundhogs could find food in a garden that is far away from your home. The better the garden is, the more private and far removed it can be.
Groundhogs need places to clean their teeth and sharpen them. Groundhogs will often use old, decaying or damaged wood structures for this purpose. This is why they create burrow entrances close to tree stumps and other isolated wooden structures. Groundhogs prefer to be hidden when they leave their burrow so they prefer to build them in covered areas. Groundhogs will live in a more spacious yard if it is less cluttered.
Groundhogs and Your Yard: How to Keep Them Away
It’s crucial to take preventative measures to stop groundhogs from entering your yard. Groundhogs can eat your garden and dig burrows in your yard if they are not controlled. Here are some ways to keep groundhogs out of your yard and in your garden.
- Search for burrow entrances within your yard. Groundhogs create multiple entrances from their burrows to allow them easy access to different food sources. These entrances are typically located in well-drained, flat soil close to a food source (e.g. a garden).
- Fill in the burrows with a shovel as you find them. This helps to verify activity.
- Next, determine why groundhog chose to surface at this location. Remove all vegetation and cover from the area surrounding the entrance.
- You might consider building a chicken wire fence or welded fence around the garden. A curving L-shape will keep groundhogs away is to extend the wire mesh about a foot below the ground. To keep groundhogs from emerging, you could extend the wire mesh around your garden.
- Last, try to get rid of as much natural vegetation as you can. Groundhogs will find it difficult to navigate your yard comfortably.
Contact a professional wildlife management critterfence can help you quickly and humanely eliminate your groundhog problem by putting groundhog fence at your place.