Phisherman said:


On Wed, 30 Sep 2009 10:37:03 -0500, "OhioGuy"
wrote:

There is a HUGE groundhog living under my shed. I see it in the back
yard once in a while, eating my morning glories. Today I went out to
check on
the kale I planted in a raised bed, and I found that every single plant had
all the leaves eaten off! (about 4 inches up) I had really been looking
forward to having kale salads this fall - hopefully the plants will recover,
but I'm not so sure.

Anyway, is there any way to ensure that this groundhog won't do it
again?
I live in the city, where unfortunately, I'm not allowed to simply shoot the
darn thing.


Groundhogs love sheds. A plain fence did not work for me--groundhogs
can climb fences. The Hav-A-Hart did not work either, groundhogs and
muskrats are leary of traps. A beating one over the head did not
work. I electrified the fence, problem solved. Fasten sturdy chicken
wire or hardware cloth around the shed base.

I've successfully trapped groundhogs. I've also smoke bombed them and
bludgeoned them with hoes.

The key with trapping is to give them something they really want close to
their den and hope for bad weather. Apples are what has worked for me.
Watermelon is also supposed to be one of their favorites.. Put a taste in the
entrance of the trap and the motherload in the back. *Always close the
trap in the evening and reopen in the morning, so that you won't be
catching opossums, racoons and skunks.*

With the smoke bombs, hit the holes when you know they are in them,
and use multiple bombs. Tape them to the ends of long sticks, light them,
and shove them well down into the hole, then close it up.

As for the hoes, a good sharp one and lots of adrenaline are recommended.
--
Pat in Plymouth MI

"So, it was all a dream."
"No dear, this is the dream, you're still in the cell."

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