Woodchucks Ruining Your Yard?

Remember that Mother Goose Rhyme about Woodchucks? How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood? As much wood as a woodchuck could chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood? Or maybe every February 2nd you love waiting for the famous groundhog Punxatony Phil to determine if there will be six more weeks of winter or if spring is on its way? While these groundhog- or woodchuck-related things are fun, having a woodchuck, (or whistle pig or groundhog as they are also known) in your yard is not so much fun.Let's take a close look at these cousins of the squirrel and find out what homeowners can do to protect their property from these pests as well as how to spot when there is a woodchuck problem.

Damage Caused By Woodchucks

Woodchucks are voracious herbivores. Their favorite foods include alfalfa, clover, peas, beans, lettuce, broccoli, plantain, and soybeans. Groundhogs will often devour your seedlings before they even have time to grow. Woodchucks not only cause damage to gardens, but they can also create chaos under structures. Burrows made by woodchucks can undermine the foundations of buildings, destroy pools, and sidewalks, and in extreme cases, cause structures like lampposts and decks to fall over or collapse. Woodchucks will also gnaw on wood siding, decking, and trim to keep their incisor teeth in check.

Spotting a Woodchuck Den

Recognizing the signs of a woodchuck making a mess under the ground of your property are pretty easy to spot. Look for holes in your yard and a large amount of excavated earth next to it, typically 10 to 12 inches in diameter. In residential areas, these pests will often dig burrows under sheds, porches, barns, slab foundations, rock walls, stairways, and even driveways or walkways.

Woodchuck Exclusion

Our wildlife specialists have a great deal of training and knowledge on woodchuck removal and exclusion techniques to ensure that, once woodchucks are removed from your property, they will not be able to return. If you are having issues with woodchucks around your property, Pest-End's wildlife division would be happy to schedule a free inspection at your home.Once you take care of these critters and exclude them from your property you can go back to enjoying the celebration of Groundhog Day or singing Mother Goose rhymes again. Call us today to get your yard back.