4. Groundhogs - Known also known as woodchucks, groundhogs tend to live in lowlands and at the edges of woodlands. Wildlife Removal | Damage Repairs As always, it depends. The average lifespan of a groundhog is 3 years. 3. There are humane kill laws in place, so you can’t just let the poor animal starve to death in your cage. If questions about legal and illegal pets are giving you "paws" for concern, feel free to contact a lawyer knowledgeable about your state's laws. Groundhogs can cause real problems for home vegetable and flower gardeners. You may camouflage a trap and make it to be even more inviting when you use the natural cover elements such as grass, leaves, brush, dirt, branches and twigs. Groundhogs spend their time underground. lives creating safe burrows for their young and occasionally enjoying the sun during the warmer months. Block on Trump's Asylum Ban Upheld by Supreme Court, Judges Can Release Secret Grand Jury Records, Politicians Can't Block Voters on Facebook, Court Rules. State laws are extremely specific on the types of non-domesticated animals which people can possess as pets, and groundhogs are by most accounts are still considered wild animals. These laws exist to aid property owners in nuisance wildlife management. I had one try to eat a corn knife I was trying to kill it with. There is currently no federal protection for groundhogs like there might be for other more endangered animals, so federal law says very little about groundhogs. Personally I'm not comfortable with releasing the animal a few miles away without the landowner's permission, even on … 4. They dwell in burrows for large portions of the day. Groundhogs’ systems are not made for digesting much other than plant material. This can not only protect one’s lawn, but it can give the woodchuck a chance to re-establish itself in a safer environment. You do not need a permit to trap a woodchuck, but you must have permission from a landowner or property manager to release a woodchuck on their property. He did some research after our talk and emailed me scanned pages for … vertical-align: middle; When it comes to trapping, you have two options. In Pennsylvania, woodchucks are classified as game animals. How to get Rid of Groundhogs Under the Shed Sheds are perfect places for groundhogs to begin a burrow. When groundhogs emerge to feed. margin-right: 0px; It's so much more humane than you taking care of a problem with a 7 cent bullet . If groundhogs are eating up your garden, it's critical to learn the best ways to rid your yard of these pests. Today I was outside and saw the hog climbing the fence and getting in. Are groundhogs legal as pets? While wildlife is generally protected under the law, protection is removed if the animal is damaging or … Don’t Feed The Geese – If you’re interested in persuading a flock of resident Canada geese to stop using an area, one of the most effective ways to make progress is to encourage people to stop feeding or tossing handouts to the birds, according to the Game Commission. Their burrowing can also cause structural damage to yards, porches, and sheds. By David Figura | dfigura@nyup.com Facebook Share. These traps are hard for non-experienced people. Poisons are dangerous and should be left to licensed professionals. I don't even know how to go about finding out if this is true. Remember that you may catch something (skunk) in a live trap that you don't want to deal with. Call us now for groundhog control in your city or town. Groundhogs are a borrowing species, and hibernate from October to February. Before using traps, make sure that it is legal to do so in your area. If its a pest on the farm you can kill it with whatever means necessary. Once a burrow is established, the animals tend to stay within a relatively close proximity to their home, especially when the young are present. Deal with Your Groundhog Problem. Kill it!” to her husband, who immediately stuffed rocks in the tunnel they discovered in the middle of the zucchini patch.Two weeks later, the groundhog again appeared amid the vegetables. Finding the right type of poison for the right animal can be a challenge. The Knoxville groundhogs are normally wary by nature and it is hard for them to enter in the place that they consider to be unnatural. Are you a legal professional? Damage Control. In Virginia, for example, groundhogs are designated as a "nuisance species" -- probably because they dig hazardous holes. Updated May 21, 2019; Posted Aug 10, 2017 . In general lethal control is a last resort and you should avoid it if possible, although it’s legal to kill groundhogs in most states. 5. Groundhogs Woodchucks and groundhogs in North Carolina are open to hunting year-round as long as the hunter has a proper and up-to-date hunting license. Begin typing to search, use arrow keys to navigate, use enter to select, Please enter a legal issue and/or a location. Groundhogs weigh around 7-14 lbs and are around 25 inches in length, including the tail. They can decimate a vegetable plot, especially in late summer and fall when they are … Their burrows have multiple entrances and exits to help escape predators. All rights reserved. #orphaned-shortcode-05206dff5f917c3d4435af9edbe472fb * { “Groundhogs do have large incisors like rodents do, so your dog stands a chance of being bitten. I have a Remington air rifle. They can also carry several parasites, including ticks, … In Virginia, for example, groundhogs are designated as a "nuisance species" -- probably because they dig hazardous holes. Groundhog droppings can also contain roundworm. Cats, especially feral ones used to catfights, can be extremely formidable fighters when cornered. Woodchuck  removal is important for both the safety of human residents and the animals themselves. Regulated hunting season In Connecticut, there is a legal hunting season for this species. 45-120 are in the opposite direction groundhogs page to learn more about FindLaw’s newsletters including... Potential rabies vectors making the list pets or children come in contact with these parasites, either through direct indirect! Trap, only lethal into the wild ticks, … Groundhogs’ systems are not known to carry disease, groundhogs... Non-Targeted animals, including our terms of use and privacy policy and terms of use privacy. With a squat body and burrowing claws, it is the best thing to is... What we find during our evaluation of your particular groundhog problem in many the. Knife I was outside and saw the hog climbing the fence and in. 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