10 Natural Ways to Get rid of Groundhogs [Natural Methods to Prevent]

Groundhogs are a type of rodent that is commonly found in North America. They are fairly large in size, and they belong to the group of large ground squirrels or Marmots. They are intelligent and social creatures, and they are also a nuisance to garden and farm owners.

They are notorious for their digging, which causes massive damage to crops and even to houses. Their burrows can extend several meters in length. These burrows can not only lead to agricultural damage but also cause damage to the foundation of a building.

If you see a groundhog near your house or your land, it’s a good idea to get rid of it as soon as possible, otherwise, it can cause widespread damage. 

10 Effective Ways to Get Rid of Groundhogs Naturally

1. Trap Them

Trapping and releasing Groundhogs is the best method to get rid of them. These animals do not reproduce too often and there is no risk of groundhog infestation, thus you can easily catch the nuisance rodent and release it in a wood.

Always make sure to check the local laws, to ensure that it is legal to relocate the groundhog. If not, you can always call animal service to take away the trapped groundhog. 

Required Material:

• Live Trap for groundhogs
• Cantaloupe 

Step by Step Method:

• While working with a trap for groundhogs, always make sure to wear gloves. This way you avoid transferring your scent to it.
• Identify the entrance to the groundhog’s burrow and start laying some cantaloupe pieces in front of it. 
• Lay a trail of cantaloupe from the burrow to the trap. Lay the trap 3 to 4 feet away from the burrow. 
• Check back in the morning the next day, and if you see a groundhog, take it and release it into a wooded area far away from your home. 

Precautions:

The main precaution you should take is to not transfer your scent onto the trap or the bait, because then the groundhog will not touch the bait at all, and avoid it. 

2. Use Ammonia

The smell of ammonia is repulsive to groundhogs, so using this as a deterrent will help you get rid of them. Ammonia is easy to find in any hardware store or online. It’s easy to use and the effects last a long time. 

Required Material:

• Ammonia 
• Water

Step by Step Process:

• Take one part of ammonia and mix it with 3 parts of water. 
• Transfer this mixture into a pesticide container.
• Spray it down the hold of the groundhog. Make sure that you don’t spray on both ends of the groundhog hole, then it will stay burrowed inside instead of running away. 
• After you see the groundhog leaving, you can close the hole up. 
• You can also spray some ammonia mixture around your garden to prevent them from coming again. 

Precautions:

Ammonia is a toxic chemical, so always wear gloves and a protective mask while handling it. 

3. Use Urine of a Predator

The urine of a predator like Coyote or Fox will scare away any groundhog or other rodents. It’s an effective way to get rid of these animals, as they will think that a predator is nearby.

This is also good as a long-term solution, as it can also prevent them from entering your garden later on. You can find fox or coyote urine online or in a nearby animal store. 

Required Material:

• Fox or Coyote Urine

Step by Step Process:

• Spread some Coyote Urine in your garden or around your land. If you see any groundhog holes, you can also pour some down its hole. Make sure not to pour it down the other side of the hole. 
• If there is any groundhog, it will run away, if they already went out of their burrow, they will not return. 
• Regularly spray some predator urine around your land to keep groundhogs away. 

Precaution: 

Groundhogs are smart and they will realize it’s a trap if they see you while you spread the predator urine. So make sure they don’t notice. 

4. Sprinkle used kitty litter

Kitty litter works similarly to predator urine. Cats are also a predator of groundhogs, and if they smell cat urine, they will run away. If you own a cat, this is a great way to reuse soiled kitty litter. 

Required Material:

• Used Kitty litter

Step by Step method: 

• Only use soiled kitty litter, fresh kitty litter is of no use. 
• Use a scoop or gloved hands to pour some kitty litter down the hole of a groundhog. 
• Make sure you’re only pouring it down one end. Then they will come out of the other end. If not, then they will stay inside. 
• You can also sprinkle some kitty litter around your plants which you want to protect from groundhogs. 

Precautions: 

If you are not using biodegradable kitty litter, then your garden may become filled with kitty litter granules. Make sure to use biodegradable kitty litter. 

5. Use Castor Oil

Castor Oil pellets and sprays have become a common method to deal with rodents. The strong smell of castor oil is repulsive to most rodents including groundhogs.

Most importantly, this method does not leave any trace and gets absorbed by the soil fairly easily. 

Required Material:

• Castor Oil
• Water
• Spraying hose

Step by Step Process:

• Mix one part of castor oil with 4 parts of water. 
• Put this mixture into a spraying bottle and attach a hose to it. 
• Now spray this mixture into the groundhog burrow, and wait. 
• Do not spray it into both ends of the hole, because then the groundhog will simply stay inside the burrow. 
• After you see that the groundhog is gone, you can spray more of this mixture around your garden to further protect your garden from groundhogs. 

Precautions:

Do not spray this mixture into both holes of a groundhog tunnel. If you do so, then they will simply stay underground until they think it’s safe again. 

6. Have a Dog or Cat

Dogs and Cats are both natural predators of groundhogs. Since groundhogs are squeamish creatures, the very sight f a cat or a dog is bound to scare them away.

This is an excellent way to drive away any groundhogs that may be living in your garden. This is not only great for getting rid of them, if you let out your dogs or cats, it can also prevent groundhogs. 

Required Material:

• Pet Dog or Cat 

Step by Step Process:

• Allow your dog or cat to go outside and play in your garden or property. As soon as groundhogs smell a predator, they will try to run away. 
• Even if it does not happen instantly, if your dog or cat sheds fur or urinated outside, the smell of a predator will be even more strong. It will drive away groundhogs eventually. 
• If you do not want to let your dog or cat outside, you can also use its shed fur to drive away groundhogs. Simply sprinkle the fur around your garden and in front of any groundhog hole that you may find. 
• In some cases, dogs and cats even catch the groundhogs and kill them. 

Precautions:

Always supervise your dog or cat when they are outside to minimize any risk. 

7. Flood their burrow

Flooding is an age-old technique that is great for trapping or getting rid of a groundhog. That being said, it is important to make sure that the groundhog is inside the hole while you flood it, otherwise, it will not work and instead, you would make it easier for it to dig through the soil. 

Required Material:

• Garden hose

Step by Step Process:

• It is important to make sure that the groundhog is inside its burrow when you do this. So only start once you see the groundhog entering its den.
• Now connect your water hose to a tap.
• Put the nozzle of the hose in the groundhog burrow and start the water. 
• The groundhog should swim out immediately and leave. 
• Once it leaves, you can close the hole or add some other preventative methods. 

Precautions:

It is essential to make sure that the groundhog is indie the hole, otherwise, it will not work. 

8. Use Garlic, Peppers, or Lavender

Garlic, Pepper, and Lavender are natural pest repellents. These materials have a very strong smell that deters away rodents of all types including groundhogs.

You can easily find these materials in your kitchen, and the repellent spray is easy to make. These strong smells will drive away groundhogs and keep them from coming back. 

Required Material:

• Garlic paste
• Pepper powder
• Lavender Oil
• Water 

Step by Step Process:

• You can use any of the materials from the above list, and then mix it with water to create a solution. 
• For garlic spray, use fresh garlic, and blend it into a paste, then mix 4 parts of water to it. Let the mixture sit for a few hours before straining away any lumps. 
• For pepper, simply use some cayenne pepper powder in water and shake up the mixture. 
• If you want to use lavender oil, mix 1 teaspoon of lavender essential oil into a liter of water. Shake the mixture before use. 
• Spray any of these mixtures into the groundhog tunnel, and around your property. Spray a good amount into the tunnel to make sure that the smell is strong enough to drive them away. 

Precautions: 

Always take proper hand and face protection while working with pepper or essential oils.

9. Motion Activated Sprinkler

Motion-activated sprinklers are a really good option when it comes to dealing with Groundhogs. This is a scare tactic, that is commonly used to get rid of groundhogs from a property.

These sprinklers are easy to acquire, and quite effective, even at night. Most importantly, it is one of the least harmful ways to get rid of these rodents. 

Required Material:

• Motion-activated sprinklers 

Step by Step Process:

• Install one or several motion-activated sprinklers in your garden or property. Simply drive the stake into the ground and it will stay put. 
• Connect the water hose to the sprinkler. 
• Turn on the water sprinkler, and it should shoot out a stream of water at any animal or human that is moving. 
• This should keep the groundhogs away from your garden effectively. 

Precautions:

The motion-activated sprinkler could spray water at you when you go in front of it, so always make sure to turn it off before going in front of it to avoid getting wet. 

10. Use wind chimes or pie foils

Groundhogs are scared of any loud or ringing sounds. They perceive these sounds as a threat and if they hear the sound of a wind chime they will run away immediately.

Pie foils serve the same purpose, you simply have to attach a string to some aluminum pie foils and hang them against the fence. 

Required Material:

• Pie foils and String 
• Windchimes

Step by Step Process:

• Hang some wind chimes on the fences around your garden. Make sure that the wind can hit them directly so that they make a sound. 
• Alternatively, you can attach a string to a pie foil to make a make-shift wind chime. It will not sound as good as a wind chime, but it will create enough noise to keep groundhogs away from your garden. 

Precautions: 

Make sure to cover all the areas, otherwise, it will not work, and the groundhogs will not be scared. 

6 Natural Ways to Prevent Groundhogs

1. Build an underground fence

An underground fence refers to a barrier created using chicken wire or hardware cloth underneath the soil. The barrier must go at least 3 feet under the ground to be able to prevent groundhogs from entering your garden or property.

The fence should also be 5 feet high above the ground. This method is amazing for garden owners and those who like to plant their own vegetables.

However, groundhogs can sometimes climb over fences, so an electric fence can be of further use. 

2. Plant things they don’t like

Groundhogs dislike any plants with strong smells. Planting these may not get rid of the groundhogs but it is bound to make them uncomfortable.

Lavender, basil, chives, lemon, sage, mint, thyme, oregano, and rosemary are all examples of plants that groundhogs hate. Plant these around your garden and groundhogs will stay away. 

3. Use Blood Meal

A blood meal is a two-in-one substance that is used as a fertilizer for several plants, and it is also a natural animal deterrent. Simply sprinkle it onto the soil near your plants, and it will provide great nutrition for your plants while also keeping groundhogs away.

The smell of bloodmeal is repulsive to groundhogs, so they will not dare to come near it. 

4. Trim excess bushes and keep your garden clean

A dirty garden attracts all types of rodents including groundhogs. If you have a lot of fruits and vegetables in your garden, it is always a good idea to clean up your garden of any fallen fruits, nuts, or other attractions of groundhogs.

Even if you do not have any fruit or nut plants, you should still clean your garden regularly to make sure there is no big bushes or pile of leaves that groundhog can hide underneath. 

5. Human Hair

Similar to Dog and Cat fur, Human hair also helps drive away groundhogs. They are also afraid of humans, and if they smell humans frequently, they would try to stay away.

You can collect your own hair clippings and store them, or you can go to a local barber and ask for some clippings.

Sprinkle around some hair clippings around your garden to keep groundhogs at bay. If they smell humans all the time, they will not enter your garden sneakily. 

6. Epsom Salts

Epsom salts are fragrant, and they have a funky taste. Sprinkle some Epsom salt around your plants that you want to protect from the groundhogs.

If they taste the Epsom salt, they will immediately be discouraged from eating the plant. They will not come near those plants again. 

Natural Groundhog Repellents Available Online

If you are looking for readily available natural repellents to get rid of groundhogs, check below-listed options:

Final Words:

Although Groundhogs can be a huge problem, they are also beneficial to the ecosystem. Their burrowing can help restore soil, and aerate it. They are also food for predators, and their burrows are often used by foxes and other wildlife after they have left them.

It is important to make sure that they are really causing harm to your garden or land before you plan to get rid of them. Of course, prevention is always essential and a valid option. If you think it’s causing problems in your garden, then we hope the above methods will help you get rid of them.