5 Essential Steps to Prevent Groundhog Infestations

Groundhogs are large rodents known for digging a network of underground tunnels and dens. They can become a huge problem for Pittsburgh home and business owners if they decide to nest underneath residential or commercial properties. Their digging not only destroys the landscaping and weakens a lawn’s structural integrity, but their burrow holes can also become dangerous tripping hazards. To protect your yard and your safety, it’s essential to employ the following groundhog prevention methods.

Top 5 Groundhog Prevention Tips

 Preventative steps you can take to fortify your yard and keep nuisance groundhogs away include:

1. Natural Repellents: Groundhogs have a keen sense of smell that helps them navigate. Use their sensitivity against them by overwhelming groundhogs with scents they can’t stand like garlic, chives, mint, sage and lavender. Planting these crops or sprinkling them around your garden can help drive them away.
2. Deterrents: Like most rodents, groundhogs are naturally skittish and tend to avoid humans at all costs. Motion-activated deterrents, like water sprinklers or activated lights, can scare them and cause them to flee your property.
3. Commercial Products: There are several store bought solutions on the market that are tailored specifically for groundhog prevention. Available in granular or liquid form, repellents that mimic predator urine can ward off groundhogs by making them think your property has been claimed. Apply them around your landscaping, especially after rain, but avoid applying to edible crops.
4. Landscaping: Groundhogs like tall grass and other vegetation because it offers them a food source and an extra layer of protection. If your grass is cut short, then groundhogs have nowhere to hide and will feel less inclined to burrow through your property.
5. Professional Groundhog Prevention: While DIY and commercial solutions can provide temporary groundhog relief, removing them fully requires professional intervention. A pest control expert will possess all the necessary tools and expertise to safely groundhog-proof your property and remove any existing groundhog infestations.

Safe and Effective Pittsburgh Groundhog Removal Services

At Critter Control® of Pittsburgh, our licensed and trained technicians use a four-step groundhog removal method to quickly and efficiently get rid of unwanted pests. Our process includes:

1. Comprehensive Property Inspection
2. Humane Pest Removal
3. Damage Restoration Services
4. Permanent Pest Prevention

The experienced groundhog removal technicians at Critter Control® of Pittsburgh will completely remove nuisance groundhogs and other invasive wildlife from your property and keep them from returning. To schedule your inspection and receive a free groundhog removal estimate, call us today at 412-767-4067.