Groundhogs - good or bad?

r0GuE · Jun 12, 2003

I live on the edge of a fairlly large tract of undevelped land. We get the occational deer, dozens of rabbits and now two groundhogs. The deer are fine, they just pass by. Perhaps every few weeks I'll see one. The rabbits are a little bad. They eat the stargazer lillies (and other flowers) and they leave a little more rabbit poop than I would prefer to be in my yard.
But the groundhogs worry me a bit. They run away if you get really close, but they are comming up closer and closer to my house. My only real concern is rabbis (did I spell that right... the disease not the Jewish guys /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif ). So anyway.. whats the concensus? They aren't digging in my yard, they probably have a city in the woods over the hill. Do they need to be whacked or are the totally harmless and rarely (never) rabid.

PhilNH5 · Jun 12, 2003

Rogue,
If you do any type of veggie gardening then groundhogs are the enemy. Can very quickly destroy a summers worth of growing. Or if they find the garden sooner they'll destroy the plants before you get any vegetables.
Even w/o a garden the groundhogs can be destructive. Their digging can do lots of damage if they undermine the foundation.

As far as rabies I don't think they are a threat. But all in all groundhogs go in the pest column.

Phil

rancar · Jun 12, 2003

<font color="blue">"...Do they need to be whacked or are the totally harmless and rarely (never) rabid..." </font>

Unless they're physically attacking you, your loved ones, or your pets, I'd leave them alone. It's unlikely they are rabid. The worst problems I have with groundhogs are when they dig those holes in the middle of the field when I want to cut it. Sometime I don't see it in time and I'm running over the rocks they throw out of their holes. It's also useless to fill those holes back in as they will just dig them out again. They will also invade the vegetable garden and do a real number on leaf and root vegetables. We've had to fence in our garden because of it.

...Bob

Anonymous Poster · Jun 12, 2003

My vote ? " B A D !!!!!! "

They dig holes large enough for my kids to break a leg in if they run across them. The groundhogs dig holes in tall grass that makes them very hard to see and the kids have stumbled across them.

So I have been using one of those "Hav-a-Heart" live traps and catching them and taking them to the State Park 15 miles away and setting them loose.

Problem is, another one seems to come along and take up residence in the old hole I filled in.

Last year I caught about 6 of them and did not see them the rest of the summer.

But now this year, I see a bunch of new little buggers.

GET RID OF THEM !!!! While you still can.

Tim

Chief · Jun 12, 2003

They are most definitely good for keeping up your shooting/hunting skills with that 25-06 or 22-250. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif Like the others have said; if you do any kind of farming, the holes these critters leave can injure live stock or collapse under your equipment as well as make gardening a battle of the wills. A good agressive hunting can rid you of most of them. As long as they stay away from your area and in there's I would live and let live.

diggerjim · Jun 12, 2003

Rouge

They are mean little suckers if you or the kids happen to be unlucky enough to back em in a corner. Be careful

Jim

cowboydoc · Jun 12, 2003

BAD. Get rid of them. They carry all kinds of diseases and will destroy your yard, garden, etc. I either drop poison down their holes or light a gas bomb. I can 100% guarantee you if you don't start to control them now they will take over.

mwechtal · Jun 12, 2003

rogue,
I vote bad. Anyone who has been riding along on a horse, and had a leg drop in a hole would agree. BTW we were at a walk about 10' from an area we felt comfortable galloping through. So, no damage, but there were oh maybe as many as 6 people that would ride through that area most weekends. We never could figure out exactly who owned that land so nobody felt comfortable shooting them. We just had to be careful.

Besides, they really are very destructive of gardens. I have to admit though, it was deer that convinced us not to bother with a garden any more. They waited until the string beans were just ready to pick and then mowed the entire garden down to the ground. They only left tomatoes if I recall correctly. We salvaged some beets, carrots, and onions, and gave up.

Mike

Mike

MDNick · Jun 12, 2003

BAD. VERY BAD

They are the only animal I will drive off road and swerve AT. Very satisfying hearing the thump, thump, when a groudnhog goes under the wheels. Just swerved at one yesterday, alas, didn't get to stamp the door. If any of you have issues with that, tough, and you haven't lived in the country long enough. They make holes in the ground making hazards to all, eat gardens, and in general are a nuisance. Only serve one purpose, target practice. I have an unequivocal opinion on the vermin, just in case you hadn't noticed.

Nick