Groundhogs in Your Yard: How Burrowing Rodents Cause Costly Damage

Humane groundhog trapping and relocation

Groundhogs in Your Yard: How Burrowing Rodents Cause Costly Damage

Learn how groundhogs tunnel under lawns, decks, patios, and gardens—and discover humane control methods like live trapping, exclusion, and predator urine deterrents.

Groundhogs, also called woodchucks, are expert diggers whose burrows can undermine turf, destabilize decks and concrete slabs, and devastate vegetable gardens. Spotting signs early and taking action prevents trip hazards, structural issues, and ongoing crop losses.

Types of Groundhog Damage

Groundhog burrow next to home, can cause potential for structural shift

Damage Area	Impact on Property	Why It Matters
Lawn Tunneling	Trenches, soil mounds, uneven surfaces	Trip hazards and dead grass
Under Structures	Burrows beneath decks, sheds, and patios	Risk of collapse and settling
Garden Devastation	Chewed vegetables, uprooted plants	Loss of produce and repeated replanting
Hardscape Undermining	Voids under paver patios and concrete slabs	Cracks, drainage issues, and shifts

Warning Signs of Groundhog Activity

• Entrance holes 6–10 inches wide near foundation walls or garden edges

• Fresh soil mounds piled beside burrow portals

• Rustling or gnawing noises at dawn and dusk

• Visible chew marks on low fences, raised beds, and irrigation hoses

Preventive Tips to Protect Your Yard

• Fill abandoned burrow entrances promptly with gravel and soil

• Keep grass trimmed and remove ground-level cover to expose tunnels

• Use motion-activated lights or sprinklers to startle nocturnal burrowers

• Store bird seed and pet food indoors to eliminate attractants

Groundhog exclusion around deck using high quality material dig defence to prevent burrowing

Humane Groundhog Control Solutions

1. Inspection and Assessment

   Identify active burrows and evaluate risk zones around decks, patios, and foundations.

2. Live Trapping and Relocation

   Set safe live traps to capture and relocate groundhogs to a suitable wild habitat.

3. One-Way Exclusion Devices

   Install devices on tunnel entrances that allow groundhogs to exit but prevent reentry.

4. Structural Sealing and Proofing

   Seal foundation gaps, deck skirting, and shed bases with durable animal-proof mesh.

5. Predator Urine Deterrent Barrier

   Apply a spray-on barrier of synthetic predator urine to discourage future burrowers.

   
   

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