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10 Great Ways to Keep Groundhogs From Digging Under Your Shed

10 Great Ways to Keep Groundhogs From Digging Under Your Shed

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It’s no secret that groundhogs can be very annoying animals to deal with on your property. They dig holes in your yard and generally become a nuisance.

If you’re really unlucky, then you might find groundhogs digging under your shed. This is going to be problematic and it’s certainly something that you want to stop.

How can you keep groundhogs from digging under your shed, though? Are there reliable methods that will make it impossible for groundhogs to be able to do this?

Keep reading to learn all about protecting your shed from groundhogs. You’ll also learn about great general advice that will help you to keep groundhogs off of your property.

1 – Use Steel Mesh Fencing

Rolls Of Mesh Fencing

The most practical way to keep groundhogs from being able to burrow under your shed is to use steel mesh fencing. This is going to make it so that groundhogs won’t be able to go past a certain point, and it should be impossible for the groundhogs to get under the shed if you do things right.

You need to make sure that the steel mesh fencing goes all the way around the shed. It also needs to go deep into the ground to make this work properly.

It’s generally recommended to sink the steel mesh fencing at least 18 inches deep. Some people think that it’s wise to go deeper than that, but you can make the decision about how deep to go on your own.

You want the bottom of the fencing to curve outward when you install it because it helps to keep the groundhogs from being able to dig underneath it.

If you do this properly, then it’ll solve the problem of groundhogs burrowing under your shed. It’ll take a bit of work on your part, but it’s very much worth it in the end.

2 – Get Rid of Wood Piles

It’s also going to be wise to remove things from your yard that will help groundhogs to hide and rest. If you keep many piles of brush and wood piles in your yard, then it’s going to make your property more attractive to groundhogs.

You should take the time to pick up all of the wood piles so that your yard will be very clean. It’ll give the groundhogs fewer hiding spots and it’ll make it more exposed.

Many people have lots of wood piles in their yard due to living in rural areas where branches fall frequently. If you can be more proactive about cleaning things up, it’ll help your chances of keeping groundhogs away from the yard.

This might be good enough to make your yard an unappealing option compared to others in the area. The groundhog is going to want spots where it will feel safe to rest, and taking those away will go a long way toward getting the groundhog off of your property.

3 – Get Rid of Undergrowth and Grass Cover

Mowing Tall Grass

Getting rid of undergrowth and grass cover will further expose the groundhogs. Groundhogs will feel more comfortable in yards that have tall grass where they can hide.

They’ll also like using undergrowth for cover so that they can hide from predators. If you don’t have hiding spots like this in your yard, then the groundhog might feel too exposed to want to stick around.

Doing this is wise when you want to keep groundhogs from feeling comfortable in your yard. It’ll act as an excellent deterrent that can make a difference when done alongside other groundhog repellent methods.

Staying on top of mowing your lawn and keeping things short will really help. You can get out in your yard and eliminate undergrowth regularly to keep things inconvenient for the local groundhog population.

4 – Make a Spray Using Garlic and Hot Peppers

Another option that you might want to consider involves mixing up a spray using garlic and hot peppers. Groundhogs aren’t going to like strong smells like this, and you can take the time to spray it all over your yard.

To get the best results, it’s recommended to puree garlic and hot peppers using a blender. You can then place this puree in a bottle along with some water.

It’ll create a liquid spray that will be perfect for making groundhogs want to flee. They aren’t going to like it at all and it just might keep them from messing with your yard moving forward.

Try to be thorough when using this type of spray on your yard. If you spray it all around your garden and lawn, it’ll do a good job of making groundhogs want to stay away.

Some people also choose to add a bit of liquid soap to the mix when using this type of spray. It can be a good idea because it’ll make the spray stick to the surface of grass and plants more, which will make it harder for the stuff to wash away quickly.

5 – Put Smelly Things in the Groundhog’s Tunnels

Litter Box Outside

You could try to keep the groundhog from wanting to use the tunnels that it has created. Many people have had good results when tossing smelly things down the groundhog tunnels.

For instance, you could choose to toss dirty kitty litter down the holes because the groundhog won’t like that. If it has been soiled by cat urine, then it’ll be especially pungent.

You might want to try loosely sealing the tunnel so that the scent will linger down there. It might cause the groundhog to run for the hills and stop bothering you.

This is a pretty cost-effective idea if you have a cat. Do be careful when trying to seal groundhog tunnels because groundhogs will try to bite people when they try to do things like that.

A groundhog can hurt you with its sharp teeth, and this means that you’ll want to keep your wits about you. If you don’t find this idea to be safe, then there are plenty of other ones that you can try out.

6 – Use Predator Urine

Predator urine is going to do an excellent job of scaring groundhogs away from your property. There are many different predators that groundhogs know that they should be afraid of.

Bobcats, wolves, coyotes, and foxes are animals that will feed on groundhogs. If you spray your yard with urine from these predators, then it’s going to make groundhogs very nervous.

You might be able to solve your groundhog problem without it being a big deal if you can get some predator urine spray. This is best used as a prevention method when you’re just trying to keep groundhogs from coming around, though.

Overall, this is a great idea that will make your property far less appealing to a groundhog. You should look into using predator urine to scare the groundhogs away.

7 – Let Your Dog Scare Them Away

Barking Dog In Yard

Having a dog in your yard might help to keep groundhogs away as well. Groundhogs are going to be understandably wary of dogs, and your dog’s presence might help to keep groundhogs out of your yard.

Of course, having a larger and more intimidating dog might do a better job than having a small dog. Dogs can definitely do a good job of scaring off groundhogs, though, and this is a good thing to try.

The only downside to this is that you likely don’t want to keep your dog outside all the time. In many parts of North America, it isn’t logical to keep a dog outside during all times of the day or year.

Regardless, it can be good to have a dog in your yard for portions of the day. It might help to keep groundhogs away because they will realize that it’s safer to go to yards that don’t have dogs.

Dogs will chase groundhogs and might even kill them if they happen to catch them. You don’t want your dog getting injured while hunting down wild animals, but many people do like to use their dogs to keep certain wild animals too afraid to step onto the property.

It’s also notable that dog urine is something that will help to keep groundhogs away. As mentioned above, predator urine can make groundhogs wary of coming around, and your dog can help with that just by peeing in the yard normally.

8 – Spread Human Hair and Dog Fur Around the Yard

Groundhogs generally hate people and they know that they need to avoid them. This means that making your yard smell like humans will help to keep groundhogs from getting too comfortable.

If you have hair clippings from trimming your hair or your beard, then you shouldn’t throw them out. Instead, you should choose to place them around the yard so that they can be used to scare away groundhogs.

This works a lot better than you might think it would overall. If you regularly place human hair clippings in your yard, then it can act as a good deterrent to keep groundhogs away.

You only get a haircut every so often, though, and many people don’t cut their own hair. It might feel kind of weird to ask your barber or hairstylist to let you take your hair clippings home.

In this instance, you might want to just spread dog fur around the yard. Dogs might be man’s best friend, but you know from the information above that they’re an enemy to all groundhogs.

Groundhogs will not like it at all if you spread dog fur around the yard. It can do just as good of a job as human hair when it comes to deterring groundhogs.

Dogs shed a lot, too, and that means that finding dog fur to spread around the yard probably won’t be tough. You can use this to your advantage and try to scare the groundhogs away.

9 – Trap the Groundhogs

Groundhog In A Trap

Some people feel that the most practical thing to do is to trap the groundhogs and relocate them. It might seem like a big hassle, but it can be a good way to get the groundhogs off of your property.

If you choose to go this route, then you’re going to need to buy some humane traps that will work for groundhogs. You can find humane traps online, but you can also seek them out at hardware stores if you don’t want to wait for shipping.

The basic idea is to place the humane trap near the entrance to burrows that you’ve found in your yard. You can place something such as broccoli in the trap and wait for a groundhog to get trapped in the thing.

Many types of bait will work well to attract groundhogs. Some people have had great success using apple slices, but you might also want to try carrots, sweet corn, or fresh lettuce.

Once you’ve trapped the groundhog, it’s going to be wise to cover the trap. If you cover the trap with a blanket, then it might help to make the groundhog calmer so that relocating it won’t be as much of a hassle.

Most people will then choose to drive the groundhog away from the area so that they won’t have to see it again. You can let it out near the woods somewhere so that you won’t have to worry about that particular groundhog any longer.

The only problem with this idea is that it might not be legal in your area. Depending on what your local laws are like, it’s possible that it might be illegal to trap and relocate animals.

Before moving forward with this, you’re going to need to look up information about your local laws. If you aren’t allowed to do this, then you’ll just have to use other methods to try to get rid of groundhogs.

Killing Groundhogs Is Acceptable

It’s illegal to kill many animals in North America, but groundhogs are different. They’re considered pest animals because they have the potential to damage your property.

In all likelihood, you’re going to be well within your rights to humanely kill a groundhog. If you let groundhogs roam free on your property, then they could even damage the foundation of your home.

Many people will choose to trap and kill groundhogs to get rid of the problem permanently. Some have chosen to simply shoot the animals when they have an opportunity to do so.

It’s up to you to decide whether you need to go so far as to kill the groundhog. Some people are morally opposed to killing animals, but others might feel differently.

You can use your own moral compass to decide what the right course of action is. It might not be completely necessary to kill groundhogs, but it might be easier than trying to keep them away when you look at things from a certain perspective.

10 – Call Professionals

Groundhog Poking Head Out Of Hole

Calling professionals to get help might be the easiest thing that you can do to solve a groundhog problem. If you’ve already had groundhogs dig under your shed, then you might not want to try to get rid of them yourself.

There can be some danger involved when you’re attempting to remove groundhogs from a burrow. You don’t want to get bit, and you might not even have the necessary tools or experience to handle something like this.

That is why so many people simply call in pest exterminators to handle issues like this. Professionals have the best equipment that will make it easy for them to trap the animals and get rid of them.

They also have years of experience that makes it a lot easier to know what to do. Even annoying animals such as groundhogs can be eliminated in a timely fashion when you call in the experts.

Of course, the problem with this idea is that you’ll have to spend some of your hard-earned cash. It might be worth it to not have to worry about having groundhogs under your shed any longer, though.

Consider looking into pest control companies in your area to get some help. Different companies might handle problems like this in different ways, and that might mean that you’ll have a preference about who to hire.

For example, there might be pest control companies that will get rid of groundhogs in nonlethal ways. Just do your research and then figure out what you want to do about your groundhog problem.

Final Thoughts

There are actually a lot of different things that you can do to keep groundhogs away from your property. Keeping groundhogs from digging under your shed will involve using steel mesh fencing, but you can also simply try to deter groundhogs from coming on to your property in the first place.

You should go through all of the advice above and figure out which options appeal the most to you. Many people will choose to use several of these ideas in conjunction to get good results.

Whatever it is that you decide to do, it’s going to be important to take action. You can’t allow a groundhog problem to go unchecked since it could cause damage to structures on your property eventually.

Thankfully, you should be able to get good results and get rid of your groundhog problem using some of the methods that have been explained here. Even if you don’t have the time to do some of these things it’ll be possible to call for help.

For some people, it’s more practical to just call the professionals and be done with it. You can decide what to do based on how much time you have to deal with the problem and your overall budget.

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