Ground Hogs (aka Wood Chucks) Digging in Pole Barn

[LouieJunior]

I have a new problem in my pole barn which has a dirt floor. Ground hogs are digging everywhere all of a sudden. Other than trapping them, is there another way to rid myself of these pests? They especially like to dig under the pallets supporting my attachments -- a few spots have caved-in.

I caught one this afternoon and it looked like a half-grown one -- leading me to believe there is an entire family to dispatch.

 

[notme]

ever hear of a 22 rifle... seems to do the job

 

[kraftykeltic]

Treat like baby beef. bar-b-que, stew, chicken fried with gravy. always good to eat. young ones are tender, older ones can be a little tough sometimes.

 

[Buckgnarly]

Shoot them and shoot them now! I had one little SOB that cleared my whole garden of beans one Summer....did not get it and his new friend until the following Spring.

 

[smstonypoint]

Any tips for luring them out of their holes? I have several that I would like to shoot, but it seems that I seldom see them out of their holes, and when I do, I'm not armed.

Steve

 

[Buckgnarly]

Any tops for luring them out of their holes? I have several that I would like to shoot, but it seems that I seldom see them out of their holes, and when I do, I'm not armed.

Steve

My Dad used to burn sulpher to flush them out, but they usually have multiple holes so you gotta block off as many holes as possible. I finally found my dirt pig's exit hole under my pave driveway when a thicket of blackberries lost their leaves. I have no freaking clue how it dug that far, but it did! Still waiting for a frost heave where the **** thing dug under the asphalt.
I think Agway sells huge smoke bombs that can also be used to flush them.

Amazon has them apparently.....
http://www.amazon.com/The-Giant-Destroyer-Gas-Bomb/dp/B000BQLWCS

 

[LouieJunior]

The one I caught this noon went for the cantaloupe bait in a live trap. I did use a .22 to send him to a new place. I'm just afraid I'll never be able to trap the whole family -- assuming they'll quickly become well-educated.

 

[sixdogs]

Any tops for luring them out of their holes? I have several that I would like to shoot, but it seems that I seldom see them out of their holes, and when I do, I'm not armed.

Steve

Get a lawn chair, Old Betsy, some light reading and wait them out. They can do a lot of damage in very short order and it's time well spent.

The one I caught this noon went for the cantaloupe bait in a live trap. I did use a .22 to send him to a new place. I'm just afraid I'll never be able to trap the whole family -- assuming they'll quickly become well-educated.

Yes, you can get the whole bunch but a straggler will likely move on. You have to disrupt the homes they built so new carpetbaggers don't move in. Also, push some gravel where they were coming in to slow them down. They are slow learners but knock a couple off and the word gets around.

I had a woodchuck move in a pole barn last summer and I spent the afternoon waiting him out and then ripping a pile of stuff apart to get at it. From my experience, they are that bad.

 

[Soggy Bottom Outdoors]

If you can find some (big if) ammonium nitrate fertilizer (bagged) and pour some in each hole as they travel in and out of the hole entrance it gets on their fur and feet. When they lick it off it disrupts they intestinal integrity. Bagged Urea fertilizer may also work and be easier to find. Not as sporting as a .22 and some CCI stingers but may work while your away.

 

[Stimw]

I knew a guy that poured old motor oil in a armadillo hole and the critter moved away!