Groundhogs, also called woodchucks, may look harmless, but their feeding and burrowing can damage vegetable gardens, ornamental plants, sheds, patios, and areas near foundations. Their burrow entrances also create uneven ground that can become a hazard for people, pets, and lawn equipment.
The most effective approach to how to get rid of groundhogs is to identify active burrows, remove easy food and shelter, protect vulnerable areas with fencing, and use legal wildlife-control methods when exclusion is not enough.
1. Why Are Groundhogs Living Around Your Property?
Groundhogs settle where they can find food, cover, and suitable soil for digging. Vegetable gardens, clover, grasses, beans, peas, squash, tomatoes, and ornamental plants can provide a steady food supply.
Woodchucks may cause extensive damage to crops and sometimes gnaw woody vegetation.
A property can become especially attractive when food is located close to a protected burrowing area.
Groundhogs may also reuse existing burrows, so an old entrance can become active again even after the original animal leaves.
2. How to Get Rid of Groundhogs
A complete groundhog-control plan should begin with confirming that the animal is responsible for the damage.
Rabbits, voles, chipmunks, and other wildlife may leave similar signs, while abandoned holes may no longer contain an animal.
Once activity is confirmed, combine food reduction, exclusion, and professional wildlife control when necessary.
How to Get Rid of Groundhogs in Your Yard
Fencing is one of the most practical ways to protect a garden.
Penn State recommends fencing approximately four feet high, with the lower edge buried about 12 inches and the bottom six inches bent outward to discourage digging. The upper portion may also be bent outward to make climbing more difficult.
Repellents may provide inconsistent or temporary protection, especially after rain or when animals are highly motivated by food.
Get Rid of Groundhogs Under Shed
How to get rid of groundhogs under shed? Do not immediately seal the opening because a groundhog or dependent young may still be inside.
First, monitor the entrance. Smooth the soil near the hole, loosely place leaves or crumpled newspaper across it, and check for disturbance over several days. A motion-activated camera can also help confirm activity.
If the burrow is occupied, contact a licensed wildlife-control professional or local animal-control authority for lawful removal options.
How to Get Rid of Groundhogs Under House Fast
A burrow beneath a foundation, crawl space, porch, or slab can be more complicated than an open yard tunnel.
Groundhogs occasionally weaken foundations, dikes, and other structures through extensive excavation, although not every burrow causes serious structural damage.
Do not use smoke, gasoline, water, exhaust fumes, or unregistered chemicals inside a burrow beneath a building.
>>> Read more: How to Get Rid of Skunks and Keep Them Away From Your Property
3. Which Groundhog Control Methods Work Best?
The most effective method depends on where the animal is living and what type of damage it is causing.
| Situation | Most Practical Response |
|---|---|
| Groundhog feeding in a garden | Buried, outward-bent fencing |
| Occasional yard visitor | Remove food and shelter |
| Active burrow beneath a shed | Confirm activity, then use professional exclusion |
| Burrow close to a foundation | Arrange wildlife and structural inspection |
| Repeated severe damage | Use legal trapping or professional removal |
| Old, inactive burrow | Fill and block access after confirming vacancy |
4. What Should You Avoid When Removing Groundhogs?
Some popular control attempts may be unsafe, ineffective, or illegal.
| Avoid | Why It Can Cause Problems |
|---|---|
| Sealing an active burrow | The animal or young may become trapped |
| Pouring gasoline into a tunnel | Creates fire, soil, and poisoning hazards |
| Connecting vehicle exhaust to a burrow | Risks carbon monoxide exposure |
| Flooding tunnels | May fail and can damage soil or foundations |
| Using poison without legal authorization | May harm pets, wildlife, and scavengers |
| Relocating without checking regulations | Wildlife transport may be restricted |
| Approaching or cornering the animal | A frightened groundhog may bite |
| Assuming every hole is active | Treatment may be wasted or target the wrong species |
5. How Can You Keep Groundhogs From Coming Back?
Keep gardens protected with properly installed fencing, and repair gaps as soon as they appear. Harvest produce promptly and clear dropped fruit, spilled feed, and dense weeds near garden borders.
Move brush, stacked lumber, stones, and unnecessary debris away from sheds and foundations. These materials provide cover and make burrow entrances harder to detect.
6. FAQs
What Time of Day Are Groundhogs Most Active?
Groundhogs are generally active during daylight, especially in the early morning and late afternoon. Activity may vary with weather, season, temperature, and nearby disturbance.
How Can You Tell if a Groundhog Burrow Is Active?
Look for fresh tracks, newly excavated soil, clipped vegetation, droppings, and a clear entrance without cobwebs or accumulated leaves.
Can Groundhogs Damage a House Foundation?
Yes, extensive burrowing can occasionally weaken foundations or other structures, particularly when tunnels remove supporting soil. Penn State Extension specifically notes that woodchuck burrows may sometimes weaken building foundations.
Will Groundhogs Leave on Their Own?
Some may relocate when food becomes scarce or the area is disturbed, while others return to the same burrow for extended periods. Waiting is unpredictable when a burrow is close to a structure or garden.
How Deep Can a Groundhog Burrow Be?
Groundhog tunnels can be extensive and may include several entrances and nesting chambers. Exact depth varies with soil and location, but the system may travel several feet below the surface and extend well beyond the visible entrance.
>>> Read more: How to Get Rid of Chipmunks Without Damaging Your Landscape
7. Final Thoughts
The safest strategy for how to get rid of groundhogs is to confirm active use, remove food and cover, protect gardens with buried fencing, and exclude animals from structures only after the burrow is empty.
When a groundhog is living beneath a house, shed, porch, or foundation, professional wildlife assistance is usually the safest option.
