What Do Groundhogs Eat? The Best Bait for Groundhogs and How to Set a Live Trap
These destructive critters have a healthy appetite
Groundhogs eat a variety of fruits, veggies and greens, including carrots, strawberries, peas, lettuce, clovers, and dandelions.
Always check with your local wildlife and game office to see if trapping and relocating is legal in your area.
It’s best to place traps near where they scavenge for food or a few feet from their burrow.
The cost of groundhog removal is about $175, on average.
Groundhogs—also known as woodchucks—are adorable little critters but also potentially destructive. These balls of fur love to burrow, and their tunnels can cause serious problems for homeowners. Groundhogs can break up foundations, chew through wires, and damage pipes.
If you have a groundhog problem threatening your home, you may have explored the best bait for groundhogs to lure them into traps and then relocate them. But if you don’t know how to get rid of groundhogs, you may not know where to start—and whether this is the best solution. This guide breaks down the different kinds of bait available and the best methods to deal with your problem once and for all.
The Best Bait for Groundhogs
Fresh fruit, vegetables, and greens are good bait options for groundhogs. Groundhogs will be tempted by any of the following foods:
Carrots
Celery
Corn
Peas
Beans
Strawberries
Blueberries
Blackberries
Cherries
Apples
Cantaloupes
Lettuce
Alfafa
Clovers
Dandelions
Daisies
Red mulberry
Hackberry leaves
The truth is that different groundhogs have different preferences, so you may need to experiment with different types of bait. If you have an attractive garden, and they seem to focus on eating or destroying one plant over others, that’s likely a good indication of what they prefer.
What may be more important than what bait you choose is where you position it in the trap and where you place the trap itself.
How to Set Up a Live Trap for Groundhogs
Start by contacting your local wildlife and game office for advice on how to handle the situation. They can alert you to any local laws you may have to abide by and let you know if trapping and relocating is an appropriate removal method. Sometimes this isn’t ideal because moving a wild animal to a new and strange area can endanger them.
If trapping is the way to go, make sure you set up your live trap and bait correctly so you don’t have to make multiple attempts.
Ideal Bait Position
Place the bait in a spot where the groundhog would need to trigger the trap to access the bait. This ensures the woodchuck won't be able to dine and dash.
Ideal Trap Position
If it's an option, place the trap in an area where groundhogs already scavenge for food. Also, place it a few feet from the burrow where they like entering and exiting. If there’s more than one hole (which is often the case), you should probably use multiple traps.
How to Relocate a Captured Groundhog
The groundhog is probably freaking out, so the first thing to do is cover the cage with a blanket to calm it down. Put the cage in your vehicle and take it, preferably at least 20 miles from home.
Remember, this isn’t the ideal method for getting rid of groundhogs. Instead, consider an alternative to trapping and relocating.
Alternatives to Trapping Groundhogs
Instead of relocating problem groundhogs, leaving them far from their home range, and even separating them from a litter that they will desperately search for, consider patiently convincing them to leave on their own terms.
Soak rags in cider vinegar (but not toxic ammonia), put them in their burrows, or blast a radio station and use bright lights at night. Disturb their peaceful environment and make them feel unwelcome. By doing so, you're treating them as humanely as possible.
Why You Should Avoid Using Poison Bait
You can easily find groundhog poison, but this is a problematic idea for dealing with a groundhog problem for four big reasons.
1. The Animal Will Suffer
It may take a groundhog days to die from the poison, inflicting great suffering for potentially a long time.
2. It Could Kill Other Animals, Including Pets
Generally sprinkled on the ground, the poison’s scent attracts animals. As a result, other creatures you didn't intend to harm could die—or, in a worst-case scenario, your beloved pet.
3. It's Hard to Tell If It Worked
Because the poison doesn't work instantly, the groundhog will wander somewhere else to die, so you won't know if the poison worked.
4. The Carcass Will Be Hard to Find
If a groundhog ingests the poison and then wanders somewhere else—like, say, underneath your house—the resulting carcass could stink up your home and attract even worse pests.
How Much Does It Cost to Remove Groundhogs?
Another option is to hire a professional to deal with the situation. The cost to remove groundhogs is $175 on average, with a typical range between $150 and $200. But if they’ve caused other damage to your home or yard, don’t forget to factor in repair costs.
DIY vs. Hiring a Pro
Consider contacting an animal removal professional near you for a consultation and a quote. If you’re concerned about a humane solution, ask about their groundhog removal approach and what alternative methods they offer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Groundhogs hibernate during the winter, so you’ll likely catch them on your property during the warmer months. They begin hibernation in October or November and emerge in mid to late February. They’re most active around dawn and dusk each day, especially as the weather warms up, and they stay burrowed in their cool nests during the sunniest hours.
You’ll find groundhogs are most active during the morning hours and late afternoon, but they want to avoid humans at all costs. If you do set a trap, you can set it out the night before so it’s waiting on them the next morning, and try to remove any human scent when setting it out.
First, contact your local wildlife services department. Then, you should be able to remove the groundhog by making the environment uncomfortable for them using scent, sound, and light, or set a live trap with natural bait that allows you to relocate the groundhog at least 20 miles from your home.
Groundhogs are non-aggressive animals that are afraid of humans. They forage for vegetation in yards and gardens, so they can often be seen as a nuisance if you spot one on your property. That said, if you happen to get bitten or scratched by a fearful groundhog, be sure to get checked by a doctor, as they could carry infections or diseases like rabies, Lyme, or the rare tularemia.
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