Need ideas on ground hog removal
BikerBob
Member Posts: 2,748 ✭✭✭
So I went out to the pole barn and noticed a hole under the cement. I have a 6x8 area with no cement for a future small bathroom. It dug right under the corner inside corner.
There were 2 additional holes under the pressure treated base board & cement dug from under the over hang that runs the length of the barn.
So the options I came up with were:
1- put out a live trap with a slice of apple. Tried that a few years ago when we last had the issue, ended up shooting them as the didn’t go for the apple. But hey, it’s a new batch!
2- put out the trail cam to check for The times they come and go, then sit out and wait to pick them off.
3- open the Doors at each end of the barn on a breezy day, put a hose as far in the hole as possible, connect the other end to the tractor exhaust. Wait by the other holes (outside) with some number 5 shot.
4- ? Looking for ideas...
P.S. the concrete inside is in good shape, so as funny as a flying groundhog would be, no explosives! (That was a good one yesterday chme!)
Comments
I was successful and the memories of the kills are actually quite pleasant!
5 Natural Ways To Get Rid of Groundhogs (Without Harming Them)
by Farmers' Almanac Staff | Posted In: Home and Garden
5 Natural Ways To Get Rid of Groundhogs
Option #2.
My favorite hunting when in High School was Groundhog hunting. Some shots at long range. (.243) If you are patient and quiet, you will get them. Most shots with a .22 mag over the top of my 20 ga. Savage 24. (We'd get $5 per for getting them out of farmers fields.) Wait for a few to come out in a freshly mown hayfield, everyone pick a different target. 3-2-1.
Making them, just go away, they will just dig another hole/burrow not to far away.
Choot em'.
If/when I have mice in my house, I don't just catch them and throw them outside, to come back in. (Same way they got in, in the first place.)
They are usually out first thing in the morning, and late afternoon. they will be within 20 or so feet of the hole, and very wary, and yes, they can see behind them. I had that problem around my pole building, and still do, every year, as there is a shed located nearby, butted up against the fenced in vegetable garden. You need something at the far end corner of the shop to slide behind and if possible, have just enough of a hole to poke a barrel through, and shoot them from there. That worked the best for me. If there are young with it, shoot the adult first, the remainder are not as smart yet and can be removed over the next few days.
Hire some folks with dogs bred to weed them out.
And fiery auto crashes
Some will die in hot pursuit
While sifting through my ashes
Some will fall in love with life
And drink it from a fountain
That is pouring like an avalanche
Coming down the mountain
A can of caustic soda drain cleaner if you don't.
Why the box?
Gonna mail it somewhere?
A little wire snare will make short work of them. Killed a ton that way. Better than live traps. Not as fun as shooting......but you don't have to wait.
Yes, my issue is the time. Supposed to be nice this weekend, but going to open the trap range for some properly social distanced practice Saturday. Maybe I can sit out with a chair and a .17 on Sunday pm a bit.
Was hoping to chase them out on my time vs. being patient. I guess I can try sniping it before I try to gas them out and then use Oakie’s cayenne on the perimeter to try to keep them away.
Thanks for the suggestions.
You should be able to find some cheap snares online. They'll have stiff, thin wire that makes a good loop, and a cinch to make it tighten (one way - like a zip tie). Place it at the hole at night and anchor the snare to something secure. Loop should be big enough that the groundhog can't go around it, but small enough that it catches on him when he passes through. Try not to handle the snare with your bare hands - don't want him to smell it when he gets to it.
Here is an example of snares...
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07G4MR5LM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_DvnQEbQAJ678Q
Here is a clip of a guy setting up a groundhog snare.....with success.
Hope that helps. Good luck!
Frog
🐸
I never tried this but a buddy told me about it back around 1975. I don’t recommend it near buildings you want to keep.
5 gallons of water
1 gallon of gasoline
1 disposable torch
2 people with shotguns
pour the water down one of the holes
pour the gas in the same hole
from a safe distance, light the torch and toss it in
ground hogs will either die in the burrow or come running out one or both of the holes where you’re waiting with the shotgun.
Size 2 coil spring trap set near the hole and staked deep. Cover with dirt, no bait.
Bait will draw crows.
It’s all the sudden like I’m living in a zoo!
Shot a raccoon, dropped it out by my apple trees and had some nice vultures doing some cleanup.
Another raccoon thinks it’s funny stuff shaking the bird feeder pole until the sunflower feeder falls to get at the seed.
Had a Rose Breasted Grosbeak there this PM.
And I walked out of my basement converted to work to work from home office today and saw this!
But I’ll try the snare, if the .17 and a chair and a cooler method doesn’t work this weekend!
What kind of snake is that ?
I think it was an eastern hog nose.
Here is the funny part, the text with my wife...