Groundhogs are easy to like from a distance. They sit up on their hind legs, look around and waddle off when they spot you. Up close, though, a groundhog living on your property can be a real headache for homeowners in North Plainfield. They eat gardens down to the stems and dig burrows under sheds, decks and stoops. Below, we'll cover how groundhogs live, how to tell if one has moved in, what damage to watch for and what actually keeps them away. If one has already dug in near your home, our wildlife removal team can handle it humanely.
What Groundhogs Are
The groundhog, also called a woodchuck, is a large rodent in the squirrel family. Adults are stocky and brown, with short legs, small ears, a short bushy tail and strong claws built for digging.
Unlike most backyard wildlife, groundhogs are active during the day, mostly in the morning and late afternoon. They're plant-eaters. Grasses, clover, vegetables, flowers and fruit are all on the menu. In winter they hibernate in their burrows and come back out in early spring.
Why Groundhogs Move In Near Homes
Groundhogs look for two things: food and a safe place to dig. A yard with a vegetable garden, clover in the lawn or flower beds gives them food. Sheds, decks, porches, stoops and the edges of foundations give them cover. Digging under a structure gives the burrow a sturdy roof and protects it from predators, which is why so many groundhog burrows end up right next to or under something you own.
Tall grass, brush piles and overgrown fence lines also give them cover to move around without being seen. A groundhog will usually stay close to its burrow and feed nearby, so a garden that sits right next to a shed or deck is an easy target. Once a groundhog finds a good spot, it tends to keep coming back to it.
Signs Of A Groundhog
- Burrow entrances. A main hole, often with a large mound of fresh dirt in front of it. Burrows usually have one or more extra exits that may be hidden in vegetation.
- Garden damage. Plants chewed down to the ground, missing vegetables and trampled beds, often all at once.
- Daytime sightings. Because they're active by day, you may actually see the groundhog sitting up near its burrow or crossing the yard.
- Gnawing. Chewed bark on young trees or chewed wood at the base of structures.
The Damage Groundhogs Can Cause
Garden losses are the first thing most people notice, but burrows are the bigger concern.
- Undermined structures. Burrows remove a lot of soil. Under a shed, stoop, patio or the edge of a foundation, that can lead to settling and cracking over time.
- Trip hazards. Open burrow holes in a lawn can catch an ankle or a mower wheel.
- Damaged landscaping. Chewed shrubs, young trees and flower beds.
- A home for other animals. Abandoned burrows are often taken over by other wildlife, such as skunks.
Groundhogs aren't aggressive, but they will defend themselves with sharp teeth and claws when cornered. Like any wild mammal, they can carry rabies. Don't try to handle one, keep pets away from active burrows, and see a doctor if anyone is bitten or scratched.
How To Keep Groundhogs Away
- Fence the garden properly. Groundhogs dig and climb. A sturdy wire fence works best when the bottom is buried and bent outward in an L shape so they can't tunnel under it, and the top is left loose so it bends back when they try to climb.
- Remove cover. Keep grass mowed, clear brush and woodpiles and trim back dense plantings along foundations and fence lines.
- Protect structures with buried mesh. Close the gaps under sheds, decks and stoops with heavy wire mesh buried below ground and turned outward.
- Use exclusion, not just a shovel. Filling in a burrow while a groundhog is inside doesn't work and isn't humane. A one-way door over the main entrance lets it leave but not return. Avoid this in spring and early summer, when young may be in the burrow.
- Seal only when it's empty. Once you're sure the burrow is vacant, fill it and secure the area so nothing moves back in.
Trapping and relocating wildlife is regulated in New Jersey, so it's not a good do-it-yourself option.
When To Call A Professional
Call a pro if a groundhog is burrowing under your home, shed, deck or stoop, if you can't find all the exits or if the damage keeps coming back season after season. EcoFusion's NJ DEP-licensed technicians locate the burrow system, set up humane exclusion and seal the openings once the animal is gone. Our home pest-proofing service can close other gaps around your property at the same visit.
Groundhogs are persistent, but they're predictable. Take away the cover, protect the garden and structures with buried fencing and exclude them before they settle in. If one has already dug in around your North Plainfield home, EcoFusion Pest Control can remove it humanely and keep it from coming back.