I just stuck the hose down the hole and ran it for 10 minutes every day. He moved off to drier pastures

They are hard to trap in live traps, although I have had some success using a bait product called "Groundhog Heaven" to encourage them to go in the trap. But, that leaves the question of how to dispose of them -- if NC is like Michigan, it's legal to live trap, but illegal to release, so you are technically required to euthanize after you trap. Mine actually went on a 7 mile ride to a cemetery that backs up to a state park, law or no law.

http://www.wildlifecontrolsupplies.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=NWS001&Product_Code=WCSBBCR

Finally, just something I didn't know until a few years back, but groundhogs CAN carry rabies, so be careful.

Get one of those sugar shakers they every diner used to have (Dollar Tree usually has them). Mix equal parts of cheap garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and hot pepper powder. Sprinkle it around the perimeter of the garden and between rows. If it rains, put it down again. Fortunately, all of the ingredients are inexpensive and it goes a long way. Cheap hot sauce is also good, but don't use it too close to the plants or you'll lower the soil pH.

I've been battling groundhogs every year to some degree. They are wily and tenacious little suckers. Wish I could tell you I've discovered a 100% surefire solution, but that just wouldn't be true.

I could never convince mine to venture into the Hav-a-Heart... even when baited with potato chips and apples (an allegedly "irresistible" combo.) I tried Hope Hoops hot sprinkle method and tossed garlic and onions around their nest hole. I even had mr beac pee in a bottle and sprinkled that around the perimeter. Nothing really kept them completely at bay.

I think I may have accidentally hit on the best method so far just a few days ago. I've seen this year's pest a few times popping in and out of his chosen place, fortunately NOT under our house like last year's (we did extensive nest-prevention around the foundation at the end of last season. One thing to know is that they build those things with more than one entrance/exit, so if you want to block them out or in, look around that tree for the other "doors.&quot

Well, the other day another member of the house saw the groundhog too. Our dog. He (the dog) busted straight thru the porch screen and attacked that little garden thief.

We only realized this had happened when we heard squealing. Mr beac yelled "DROP IT!" before we realized what it was (we were terrified it was one of the neighbor's chickens) so he didn't manage to kill it, but with a bite pressure in the 1200lb range, I'm sure doggie's fangs put a severe hurting on the pest. We've not seen or heard a peep from it since.

Do you have a dog? Maybe take him outside for a garden stroll every evening? 5-7pm seems to be the time they are most active around here.

One other thing to try if you get really desperate is "feeding" them. Last year, I'd put the peelings, chop ends, cores, etc. of the veggie and fruits we were eating next to their other nest (not the one under the house) and that dramatically reduced the raids on the actual garden. We live in the country, so not sure how this would go down in the suburbs.

I haven't used this method,
but others I know vouch for it for ANY burrowing mammal.

Attach a hose to the exhaust of a lawn mower, motorcycle, or other device powered by an Internal Combustion Engine. (I would use 4 stroke).
You may need to get some High Temp hose (automotive) and/or add a pipe extension to the muffler.
Snake the hose into the tunnel,
then run the engine.

Carbon Monoxide is heavier than air, and will collect in low spots.
I have heard several local gardeners swear by this method,
and I will probably try it if I ever have a ground hog problem.
My only concern is oily residue in the ground from incomplete combustion.

It's also heavier than air and toxic when concentrated. You could probably just buy a piece of dry ice at the store, drop it down the hole, pour in a bit of water, and seal up the entrance.

So now I am armed with a pellet gun (Sue found it at the house she was clearing out in Canada and boxed it up and mailed it home) - pretty wimpy, but would at least get its attention. Also borrowed a big Havahart trap that is loaded with bread and peanut butter.

But the critter ate all of the leaves off of two big rows of bush beans and mowed down lots of my lettuce.

The neighbors are hoping it won't resort to that.