OT- Woodchuck Problems

Ryne

Member
I have a 60x35 garden in my backyard with an electric fence and i have a woodchuck that has recently moved in under my shed has just visited the garden so the fence has no affect on the woodchuck as it has eaten some of the plants i am looking for any suggestions for removing this pest such as bait, trapping tips, etc. i currently have traps set baited with carrots and peanut butter. neighbors arent a problem where i am so any tips welcome thanks in advance
Ryne
 

Might try a pan of anti freeze for his afternoon cocktail. Just be sure your dog & cat can't get to it. If his hole wasn't under your shed you could run some propane down it and use a long fuse. Other than that a good rifle and some patience might work. Good luck,
Paul
 
I've had good luck running a flexible hose from truck exhaust (gasser) down the hole. Woodchucks have at least two holes per. Plug one and run the exhaust down the other.I run at least 30 min but usually about an hour. Then plug that hole and drive on. I go do something else all the while this is taking place. There will be only one woodchuck in each hole/den. They are not sociable. Exception is this time of year when mother has the young with her. I've also heard that chewing gum, especially bubble gum, will gum them up and take them out. Don't know for sure. Shooting is fun but I don't have the time unless one randomly appears. .22 LR w/scope. Haven't missed yet.
 
i had one under my shed i figured where the hole was and driolled a hole in the floor and disposed of my waste oil into his hole like 5 galions worked great hasent ben back in 5 years.
 
When they gots to go, you'll need to get up early in the morning or at some convienent time when all is quiet wait for him to come out, when he does, a .22 will do the job.

I used to kill them often, but not much anymore, had one that became kind of a pet, that is another story.

I'd imagine that in different places, the foliage they like probably varies, around here, even as its been dry, they have plenty to eat, might be your garden is more attractive than other things growing nearby. Used to be, if I saw one in the garden, or in the field nearby, I used to quietly open a window and carefully place a shot to take him out. After observing them later on, I noticed they were not touching my plants, they were chowing the weeds.

I've got 1 or 2 that live nearby, and they regularly pass through my garden when the fence is out, they don't bother any of the plants, which is shocking, the deer would cause more damage, but I've moved the garden right next to the house where they won't bother it. When I'm done with planting, mulching and staking tomatoes, I put up a cyclone fence that I salvaged from a job years ago, so while working in there, I take it down until I'm done for the season. Nothing gets in except the chipmunks. I could wrap chicken wire on the bottom portion of the fence fabric, but have not needed to do so yet as they don't usually bother anything, well last year a pair of them were getting cherry tomatoes, so I took 2 shots at them, LOL too close, I missed, but it scared em off, they smartened up quickly after that, never came back.

Before I fenced it off, my buddy the woodchuck, would wait and he knew exactly what ones, the same ones I'd be watching, which were always the best tomatoes getting close to being ripe and he'd chomp the one I'd want to pick ! That is the price I paid for making friends with a rodent, LOL (he was a really cool little guy) then I fenced it off, he did not try and dig under it either. It would tick me off, so I figured cut the bitten part out, wash and still have some of that tomato, pathetic though, sharing my prized tomatoes with a rodent !

I'm surprised he is getting around the electric fence, although they have a nice coat of fur to insulate him, unless he hits it with his nose, probably not going to work, and as far as baiting him, some like one thing and others like something else, my buddy used to eat fresh dinner rolls from the bakery, others I've tried to feed, did not like any bread or other things I've tried, you may have to work on that. They are very smart critters, wary of their surroundings at all times. If you can wait him out, or find his hole, watch that, many times they sit just inside it and pop their heads up, then time to shoot, if you get him, fill that hole in, others will use it if left open.
 
Yep, the bubble gum worked for me. Had them in a machine shed and one along the side of the house. Bought a sack of bubble gum and put half a dozen pieces around the hole. That was the end of the buggers.
 
And now that waste oil is slowly making the trip down into your aquafer--(drinking water)
 
How far away are you. I could loan you my little dog Schofield. He is a 30 lbs. beagle, Cocker spaniel mix. Boy what a hunter. Eats anything he catches that is furry. Doesn't cost much to feed him cause he eats a new squirrl about every day. He has recently been after a ground hog under a culvert through the creek in front of my barn. He has been stakeing it out for about 2 weeks now, but the critter has always beat him back to its hole. That is until today. I was going down the road and here he comes strutting up the road with that varmit dangling from his mouth. Proudest looking beagle I ever saw.
 
Find somebody side dressing with AA block all holes but one put hose in holes and open valve problem solved .
 
I plug the other hole and put some oily lit rags down the remaining hole then use a leaf blower for about 30 min blowing down the hole with the burning rags in it. works good.
 
Bubble Gum? Ordinary bubble gum my kids get in their hair? The stuff stuck to floor, furnature, inside clothes pockets etc?
Or do the groundhogs laugh themselves to death reading the comics wrapped around the gum?
 
I've tried many methods over the years and the only "for sure" solution for me in my fields is with a varmint caliber rifle & scope. I don't like using a regular .22 rimfire as they richochet and are actually more dangerous than a small bore varmint round that breaks up on contact. I have not tried the bubble gum as I can't seem to take it serious - I could be wrong here but some of them critters are pretty difficult to get rid of. I would not suggest poison baits, as you may end up killing local dogs or cats too. A neighbor puts down chicken wire on ground around garden - says that the groundhogs won't walk on it. good luck - my 0.02
 
Many years ago, we filty Americans disposed of more used motor oil in three days than what leaked out of the Exxon Valdeis in Alaska. Do you remember the outrage over that spill?
 
Safer with .22 shorts, and quieter than pellet gun. I used to use .22 high speed but would go right through chucks.
 
I have a woodchuck digging under my shop. I'd never heard of the bubble gum bit. I'll have to try it.

I've also found a well placed .357 Magnum worked wonders on others. So does the old standby 12 guage.
 
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