Posted on 06/19/2009 5:33:57 PM PDT by randita
We have been plagued with groundhogs burrowing under our front porch slab for a couple of years. The burrowing has caused several cracks in the slab.
We have tried liquid fence, mothballs, noise, electric trip wires, have a heart trap, plugging up holes with stone and cement (it just digs new ones). Sometimes we are rid of them for a little bit, then a new one comes along.
This morning, I went out to pick some lettuce from my small garden and there wasn't any left. It had all been chewed off. We live in suburbia and can't exactly sit out on our front porch in a rocking chair with a .22, waiting for the pest to emerge. Although a carefully aimed shot out a 2nd story window has been fruitful on a couple of occasions. Then again, we can't just sit by a window all day waiting to see the pest.
We can't poison it (would love to!) because it might die under the porch slab and our basement (which we heavily use) would reek to high heaven.
We are at our wit's end. Any and all ideas appreciated.
Any miracle ideas?
Where do you live? Where I live, we can call the city’s vector control office and they will come take care of critters. They trap them and take them out to the country someplace.
I keep wolverines around just to keep the groundhogs away. They do a fine job.
Tell them there’s auditions in Punxsutawney, PA for next year’s Punxsutawney Idol...
They could wind up as the new Punxsutawney Phil..
No ???
post #11 has your answer...works on coyotes too...
.22 CCI Stingers do wonders on groundhogs.
Conibear trap
A big, nasty dog oughta do the trick.
Trap with the corn is best idea, but instead of releasing it use a .22 to dispatch, skin, gut, cut into pieces, put some veggies with it and roast in slow oven for about 2 1/2 hours. Absolutely delicious! They are vegetarians, meat is consistency of pork roast, would like to try with BBQ sauce sometime.
Even more so.....
Beeman Super Magnum Kodiak in .22 cal. pellet
Our cats were good hunters, but the groundhogs were smart enough to steer clear when cats were in the vicinity. It was a neverending battle just defending our garden and dikes from groundhog destruction. I probably killed 10-12 of them every year, but new ones would just keep moving in.
When I was a kid, we used to buy them by the gross at the pharmacy for $15.00.
The box had a nice little illustration of some old farmer lighting one, rolling it down a hole (hence their round shape), a "bang" picture, then little dead rodents with x-ed out eyes in a tunnel, killed by the concussion in an enclosed space. I think they were for gophers, but firing off a couple/three at once would probably do the trick for a groundhog. You could probably make your own with the right stuff, but who knows whom that would attract.
We thought it was hilarious (as we launched them with our wrist rockets at pretty much everything).
You might enquire at a feed store or farm and ranch supply - a real one, not a corporate chain like Tractor Supply.
Where I live Wolverines aren't much good for anything these days..........
Also, I wouldn't rule out the poisoning plan....the little bastards wouldn't reek for all that long. I used to do that with inside-the-wall mice and the funk factor was done within a week.
Another use for those things that dawned on me (I'd buy 'em regularly due to two sadly diapered parents) is to tape them to the garage floor in the parking area if you have a small pesky oil leak.....beats the hell out of putting kitty litter in a cookie sheet - which wifey would always run over.
Works like a charm. I've had one down for six months and it's good to go thru the 2010 election cycle.
Have had them baked before...not bad.
Superior intelligence. Superior firepower.
I used to use crankcase oil down the hole. Now I use .22 long rifle hollow points. Fill the hole with cement. Filling the hole in with dirt and rocks does not work with the NY rodents.
This is what my sister uses in rural MI...and she doesn't use it to dig them a bigger hole!
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