Goodbye, Groundhogs

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The Futility of Fencing

If neither "sharing" nor "Snaring" solves your groundhog predicament, it's time for more direct tactics. One plan I don't recommend is trying to fence the scourges out. Woodchucks can scamper over wooden fenceposts and dig under metal ones. Of course, you could (with a lot of sweat) bury an 18inch wall of chicken wire, but a shrewd 'hog will remember that his own den entrance is a four-foot vertical shaft ... and just burrow right below your barrier.

A Ground Hound

I don't have a garden fence — or garden woodchucks either — but then, I own one of the world's great groundhog discouragers ... Mooch. That energetic canine of mine barks like a hot-tempered demon at any intruder in "her" yard or garden, and the local groundhogs are convinced she's a killer.

Ol' Mooch has more bark than bite, though, so it's fortunate that our resident woodchuck's a patsy ... because a scrappy 'hog can wound a normal-sized dog and even kill a small one. If you decide to use a "garden guardian", be sure the chuck-chaser is either a coward at heart (so it can escape when the going gets tough) or both big enough and fierce enough to finish what it starts.

The Bomb

Now, all the suggestions I've given so far are basically nonviolent, amicable ways to resolve your woodchuck disputes, and such ideas will work for most folks. But "most folks ain't all folks", so peaceful solutions might not do the job for you. In spite of your efforts, that pernicious bunch of crop crooks may keep devouring your tender, succulent plants (and believe me, groundhogs can ravage a garden). When that happens, you have to make a tough choice ... them, or you.

If you choose "them", you might try smoke-bombing the critters' burrows. Most farm supply stores carry the firecracker-sized sticks you'll need for this common 'hog-killing tactic. What you do is plug all but one of your woodchuck holes, poke the lighted fume spreaders down the last entrance, and then immediately fill the opening. Your groundhogs should expire quickly and quietly. (The bombs — obviously — won't work if the animals don't happen to be at home.)

Don't Waste Meat!

Smoke bombing is neat and effective. But if you've got to declare war on the varmints, it's a lot more useful to trap or shoot' em ... because, to tell the truth, groundhogs make excellent eating. American Indians, early settlers, and plenty of present-day farmers have all enjoyed the rabbit like meat. Not only that, tanned chuck hides make very durable rawhide thongs, too! [EDITOR'S NOTE: For more on tanning, read How We Tan Sheepskins Into Beautiful Rugs, How We Tan Pelts the Easy Way and How to Enjoy Furs Without Killing Animals1

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