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DebJ

(7,699 posts)
Sun Aug 18, 2013, 09:58 AM Aug 2013

How to get a groundhog to move its burrow

Sometime over the past year, a youngish groundhog dug a burrow right next to
the foundation of my house. I've tried refilling it with dirt numerous times; he/she just
re-digs it. I guess the concrete and block foundation keeps it cozy in the winter.

I don't want to kill it; I enjoy watching him munch out in the evenings, but I don't
want to have damage to my house. Our basement gets flooded from time to time
and I'm sure this huge hole won't help.

I'm going to try the following tactic I just read on the net, but if anyone else has
ideas I'd appreciate hearing them. Again, I don't want to kill it, or trap and release
it, just get it away from the house foundation. I don't have cats, but I will be seeking
donations of used litter from a friend.

"Or use ‘repulsion’ to chase the beast over to the neighbor’s tomatoes and begonias. Researchers have noted that groundhogs are THE most fastidious of underground creatures, constantly digging new latrines and sealing off old ones to keep their runs ‘Martha Stewart fresh’. So obtain some used kitty litter—preferably from a litter box that went too long between changes—scoop out and properly dispose of the solid waste, and then pour the ammonia-rich remainder into that main entrance hole. The groundhog’s reaction will be the same as if someone had dumped a truckload of the stuff into your living room: “Honey—we’ll never get this place clean! We have to move.”

The groundhog will almost certainly dig another tunnel nearby. You can foul that one rightaway or be mean and wait a week or so. Listeners who have tried this assure me that their giant squirrels have always moved on to less fragrant surroundings after the 3rd or 4th fouling.
http://www.gardensalive.com/article.asp?ai=684

5 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
How to get a groundhog to move its burrow (Original Post) DebJ Aug 2013 OP
Firecrackers AnotherMcIntosh Aug 2013 #1
Blood meal + used kitty litter firenewt Aug 2013 #2
Thanks! DebJ Aug 2013 #3
WHERE was this method when I was living above Groundhog Manor?? beac Aug 2013 #4
Update: it's been a week since we dumped in kitty litter DebJ Aug 2013 #5

beac

(9,992 posts)
4. WHERE was this method when I was living above Groundhog Manor??
Mon Aug 19, 2013, 06:01 PM
Aug 2013

And I had ample offending kitty litter!

No sign of the little jerks here in our new neighborhood, thank goodness!




*edited for typo*


DebJ

(7,699 posts)
5. Update: it's been a week since we dumped in kitty litter
Sun Aug 25, 2013, 10:38 AM
Aug 2013

it was the clumping kind so mostly just the feces of our friend's 3 cats...
and so far, the critter hasn't returned to this lair.

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