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Keeping a dog can be helpful to keep out groundhogs, but not everyone wants to own a dog. 9 Ways to Protect Your Garden From Groundhogs Without protection, you might as well tell everyone you’re growing an all-you-can-eat buffet for the local groundhog population. Got any of these (or all of them) in your garden? It’s like a blinking welcome sign, encouraging the local groundhogs to stop by for a snack throughout the day.

Here are some of their favorite snacks in your garden. That doesn’t mean they don’t have favorites – they do. So, if you have a family that found your family, it’s easy to see how they can destroy a garden in days. Groundhogs need to eat a pound and a half of vegetation each day. These babies love to eat and aren’t picky. You don’t get that cute and chubby – yes, the groundhogs on my property that don’t bother my garden are fat and adorable – by not eating. Look for tracks in the dirt that have 4-clawed toes on the front paws and 5 on the back.There are deep burrow holes in the lawn.You find burrow entrances next to piles of dirt throughout your property.You notice wide teeth marks left behind on the plants, fruit, and bark.Here are some of the common signs left behind by groundhogs. So, how do you know that groundhogs are your culprit? Signs of Groundhog Damageĭespite being active during the day, if you work outside of the home, you might not catch them in the act. Groundhogs are not nocturnal they’re active during the day, which does help you stop them. They tend to be the most active in the spring when they start to mate. Despite the Groundhog Day celebration on February 2nd, the rest of his family members are sleeping in their dens at this point. Like many animals, groundhogs hibernate in their dens throughout the winter and emerge as the temperatures start to get warmer. They can wipe out an entire garden in a matter of a day or two, so you have to pay attention. Groundhogs are herbivores, so while they won’t dine on your livestock, they will make your vegetable garden their four-course buffet. Plus, weakened soil is a danger to your livestock. That might not seem problematic, but it can damage the foundation under your barns and sheds or even your farming equipment. These burrows can be 2-4 feet underground, running up to 30 feet horizontally.ĭue to their underground activity, groundhogs on your property can weaken the soil. You can find them in nearly every state, including Alaska.Īs suggested by their name, these animals are excellent ground diggers they can build extensive tunnel systems with chambers, hallways, and several exits.

Groundhogs are a relative to squirrels, typically weighing 4-14 pounds with long, coarse, grayish-brown coats. Sometimes referred to as woodchucks or marmots, groundhogs are a type of rodent that causes massive damage to your garden and lawn. While I do prefer groundhogs over raccoons because they won’t kill my chickens, losing your entire garden is heartbreaking. This year, my in-laws didn’t have a plan, and the local groundhogs ate all of their green beans, tomatoes, and zucchini. Groundhogs are no joke when they find your garden, you can kiss your harvest goodbye unless you have a solid plan to protect yourself from them.