The typical cost to remove groundhogs is $150 to $200
The humble groundhog may look cute, but don’t let its roly-poly features fool you. This little critter can wreak havoc on your yard. The average cost of groundhog removal is $175, but it ranges from $150 to $200, depending on your specific situation.
Groundhogs—otherwise known as land beavers, whistle pigs, and woodchucks—also sometimes carry diseases, so it’s good for both your safety and theirs to relocate them away from humans. Luckily, there are ways to safely and humanely remove them from your lawn.
Professional Groundhog Removal Cost Factors
It costs between $150 and $200 to have groundhogs professionally removed. Factors that influence the cost of groundhog removal include location, transport, cleanup, and how many groundhogs are in your yard. Contact a groundhog removal professional near you for a personalized quote.
Humane Trapping
Humane trapping and removal may cost more than extermination, but many homeowners find the extra charges worth it. These technicians will have more experience with trapping and relocating groundhogs than you do, and will know the proper and legal locations to resettle the animals.
Transport
Professionals must transport and release the groundhog up to 100 miles away—any closer, and the groundhog might try to return to its burrow. The farther away the suitable location is, the more it will cost.
Cleanup Costs
Another important factor in professional groundhog removal cost is the cleanup required afterward. For example, will the professional close up the burrows to prevent a twisted ankle or damaged lawn mower? Be sure that you’re both on the same page about any post-relocation cleanup that needs to happen.
How Much Does It Cost to Remove Groundhogs Yourself?
Depending on what materials you have on hand, there are several DIY methods of groundhog removal.
Predator decoys are one free way to discourage a groundhog from digging up your vegetable garden. Soak some rags in ammonia and place them near where you’ve seen a groundhog. The groundhog may mistake the smell for a predator’s urine and flee the area. (Cat owners can put down used kitty litter for the same effect!)
You can also humanely trap and release groundhogs. A humane trap (one that catches an animal without harming it) costs about $50, and you can typically find one at a local hardware store or online.
How to Use a Trap
Here’s a general overview of how to set up a groundhog trap, though you should always follow the instructions that come with your model:
Bait the trap with cantaloupe, strawberries, or something from your garden
Place the trap near a burrow hole or recently damaged patch of veggies
Bury the bottom of the trap with dirt so the groundhog can’t feel the metal mesh when he steps onto it
Use stones, twigs, and lawn debris to form a funnel into the trap, guiding the groundhog into it
Caging a groundhog in a humane trap is not hard, but legally relocating the animal could be. Check with your wildlife agency or state game commission regarding relocation.
If you are permitted to relocate groundhogs, avoid direct contact with them because the ticks they carry could spread Lyme disease. You also run a small risk of contracting tularemia, a rare infectious disease also known as “rabbit fever,” from an infected groundhog. This means you must handle humane traps carefully, and avoid traps that can injure or kill the animal.
Cost to Repair Groundhog Damage
These pesky little diggers build burrows around your property, which can damage your house and your yard. If they do significant damage, you might need to budget for lawn, yard, electrical, or foundation repair in addition to removal costs.
Foundation Damage
Groundhogs that have burrowed around your home might leave piles of dirt and holes near your foundation, weakening your structural stability. Minor repairs are priced affordably, starting at $500, but foundation repairs average about $4,500, depending on the extent of the damage.
Yard Damage
Because they spare no veggie plant or bush, you may need to replant. If they’ve really sunk their claws into your grass, a landscaper might recommend regrading your yard to make it level again, which adds up to roughly $15 per cubic yard.
Lawn Damage
Groundhogs often leave grass in shambles, forcing you to reseed your yard ($0.10 to $0.20 per square foot) or resod your yard (about $1 to $2 per square foot).
House Damage
If groundhogs left chewed wires in their wake, you’d need to hire an electrician and pay to rewire parts of your home, about $2 to $4 per square foot. For any irrigation or sprinkler system repairs, expect to pay $270 on average, according to HomeAdvisor.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can remove groundhogs yourself using a DIY approach of rags soaked in ammonia, or you can purchase and set a trap for the groundhog. These low-cost methods are easy to implement, but you should ensure that you comply with local laws and regulations concerning animal trapping and release. You can also hire an experienced professional to remove groundhogs from your yard.
While the cost of animal removal depends on the type of animal, the location, and other factors, the average cost to remove an animal from your property is about $300.
Groundhogs are definitely cute, but it’s usually not a good idea to have them living in your yard. Not only can groundhogs tear up your grass and create unsightly holes and burrows, but they can also carry infectious diseases that are dangerous to humans.
