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Groundhogs love to eat a variety of plant matter. This includes beans, peas, sunflowers, tender greens such as leafy vegetables, clover, dandelion, and alfalfa, and sweet fruits such as apples and berries. Groundhogs eat up to a pound and a half of plant matter each day, so household gardens often become their prime target.

Due to the high temperatures used during heat treatments, many things must be removed from the area. The most vital things to ensure you remove are living things like pets and plants. To prevent damage to your belongings, you should also remove items such as electronics, flammable products, food, and anything else that the heat may damage.

Like many animals, gophers are bothered by strong scents. Peppermint oil, eucalyptus oil,  and coffee grounds can be used as deterrents against these pests. Similarly, you can try planting lavender, rosemary, sage, geraniums, or pine trees, as these plants all have strong smells that can ward away gophers. While it may be less pleasant to work with, coyote urine scares gophers by tricking the pests into thinking your yard is a predator hot spot.

To determine if you have a rat or mouse infestation, look for several key differences. The most obvious is the size of the rodent: rats are significantly larger with thicker bodies, while mice are much smaller and more slender. You can also identify them by their droppings; rat droppings are larger and rounder, about the size of a raisin, while mouse droppings are smaller, like a grain of rice, and often have pointed ends. Other signs include the sounds they make, as rats produce louder scratching and gnawing noises due to their size. Behaviorally, rats tend to be more cautious, whereas mice are more curious and might be seen more often. Additionally, rat nests are typically larger than those of mice. If you are unable to see the pest or find clear evidence, a professional inspection can provide a definitive identification.