5 Effective Ways to Get Rid of Groundhogs for Good

As a Pennsylvanian, you are likely familiar with a certain famous groundhog from over in Punxsutawney, or you have probably even seen your fair share of the critters around the Greater Pittsburgh area as the groundhog is one of the most common wild critters in Pennsylvania.

While cute, groundhogs can cause serious damage to your Pittsburgh residential or commercial property. Therefore, it’s important to recognize the signs of a groundhog infestation and understand some of the effective prevention methods to help get rid of the burrowing pest.

Dangers of a Groundhog Infestation

Groundhogs, like most critters, are constantly on the prowl for food and shelter. In their search for nourishment, they will rummage through and destroy your yard, garden, crops, and landscaping. To make a shelter, groundhogs will dig an underground tunnel system for them to nest in and travel through. In doing so, they will create multiple holes in your lawn that will serve as tripping hazards for you and your lawn equipment to get stuck in. If they dig deep enough, groundhogs could also sever underground cables, destroy plumbing and sprinkler systems, and ruin the foundational strength of your home.

5 Ways to Get Rid of Groundhogs

1. Make some noise. Groundhogs dislike loud noises and vibrations. Placing noisemakers, wind chimes, pinwheels, and any item that emits a sonic output around your property and near their burrows can work.
2. Turn to your spice rack. Believe it or not, groundhogs hate the scent of garlic and pepper. You can spread these spices in and around their burrows or around your garden to deter them.
3. Enlist your pets. If you have pets, save some of their fur after a grooming session to place around your property to drive groundhogs away. Their intimidating presence outside can also scare groundhogs away.
4. Install fencing. Construct some deep fencing around your garden or crops to keep groundhogs from digging under them.
5. Hire groundhog removal professionals. When it comes to the most thorough and effective way to get rid of groundhogs, your best bet for complete removal, exclusion, and prevention is to contact wildlife removal experts.

Safe and Effective Groundhog Removal Methods

Groundhog removal is a task not recommended to be taken on alone, and store-bought DIY methods and materials aren’t effective or safe enough to truly get rid of groundhogs. Fortunately, the trained specialists at Critter Control® of Pittsburgh utilize a humane four-step CritterSafe® strategy to permanently get rid of nuisance pests that includes: 

1. Inspection
2. Removal
3. Prevention
4. Restoration

Get Rid of Groundhogs With Critter Control® of Pittsburgh

The experienced pest removal technicians at Critter Control® of Pittsburgh will quickly and safely remove nuisance pests and wildlife from your Pennsylvania property and keep them from returning. To schedule your inspection and receive a free estimate for our humane and efficient groundhog removal services, call Critter Control® of Pittsburgh today at 412-767-4067.