Groundhogs and Woodchucks

Groundhog/Woodchuck Management Services

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About Woodchucks

Marmota Monax (Woodchucks)

Woodchucks, commonly referred to as groundhogs, are found in all 88 counties of Ohio. Their range covers most of the eastern US and spans into southern Canada and even Alaska!

Woodchucks are very strong diggers when accessing underground denning opportunities found under decks, sheds, porches, and concrete slabs. Typically, large mounds of dirt and rocks will be found at the main entry point of woodchucks.

Woodchucks like to eat mainly fruits and vegetation, but they also enjoy water and food bowls left out for domestic animals. Disease transmission is a concern when woodchucks and pets consume contents from the same feeding bowls.

Mating and Nesting

Woodchuck mating season starts in February and runs through May. Gestation lasts for 32 days. Woodchucks usually have between two and seven pups per litter. Baby woodchucks are weaned and moved to a nearby den after they are about 12 weeks old.

Ecological Impact

Woodchucks are essential to our native ecosystem as they are beneficial in managing insect populations. They also help with bringing essential fungal spores, plant matter, feces, and other organic matter deep into the earth as they burrow. This natural and subterranean composting adds value to plant roots and helps to distribute rainwater.

While they are an important part of our ecosystem, woodchucks can cause damage to foundations and wood building materials, wiring, and plumbing. Permanent exclusion is almost always necessary to prevent them from undermining foundations and causing other structural damage to homes and outbuildings. Contact us today to get more information about woodchuck removal.

Very good at moving dirt out from under a deck, shed, or porch.

Woodchuck Management FAQ

Have a woodchuck-related question? We have the answer. Check out these FAQs and give us a call today for more information!

Can I shoot them?

Discharging a firearm within city limits is ILLEGAL, which means that shooting a woodchuck is not an option. Additionally, if the female woodchuck is taken during baby season, her offspring will be left to perish, which can cause a worse scenario if the offspring are inaccessible in an attic or chimney or under a deck.
Why not just trap them and remove them?

It is ILLEGAL in the state of Ohio to trap a nuisance animal and release it anywhere other than the property where it was trapped. If a female woodchuck is trapped during baby season, offspring are often left behind to perish. This can lead to additional damage in the home and often causes additional insect or odor problems. Trapping also results in woodchucks being left in hot traps, often for up to 24 hours, which causes unnecessary pain and suffering to the animal.

Trapping providers may tell you the animal will be released off-site, but that is illegal. In most cases, trapped wildlife is simply removed and euthanized. Traditional traps are not set near the point of entry, allowing the possibility of trapping other unintended animals. Woodchucks are especially difficult to trap effectively, as trapping also does not directly address the point of entry or den site, thereby leaving room for error. By trapping, you are simply removing one symptom of your problem, not addressing the cause. You can remove one woodchuck at a time over and over, but until we address the reason they are using your structure for shelter, the problem will not be truly solved.

How Can TLC Wildlife Management Help?

TLC Wildlife Management exclusively utilizes humane techniques for the eviction of woodchucks and other wildlife. We use the behavior and biology of the woodchuck to allow the animal to evict without harm. Points of access commonly found are underneath decks, sheds, barns, porches, or concrete slabs.

Our humane solution starts with a one-way door placed at the point of entry, ensuring only the target animals are addressed. The woodchucks can leave on their own to feed, but cannot get back in. Eviction is timed outside of offspring season to prevent any offspring from being orphaned on the outside of the structure. As woodchucks have multiple den sites and large burrowing networks, the mother can collect her litter and move them safely to another location. TLC Wildlife Management then provides preventative solutions to prevent re-entry. This method results in less interaction with wildlife and fewer visits to your home.

We offer customized solutions that work for your home and lifestyle and all exclusion work is guaranteed. Call us or request a quote today to schedule an evaluation which includes interior, exterior, roof, and attic inspection. We will also provide detailed photos and education about your specific situation, resulting in a solution to help you coexist in harmony with your wild woodchuck neighbors!

A large rodent that has very strong front legs to move massive amounts of earth to create underground tunnels. The tunnels may allow water to find its way along your foundation or into your basement.
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