Is this really a question anyone cares about when a woodchuck has been eating their tomatoes for weeks? I think not. The real question is: "How do you get rid of woodchucks?" Let's explore that.
Have you seen the movie Groundhog Day where weatherman Phil Connors, played by Bill Murray, kidnaps the lovable woodchuck, named Punxsutawney Phil and tries to drive off a cliff with him? That is pretty much how woodchucks, aka ground hogs, make most homeowners feel. When you see that your tall majestic sunflowers are now one-foot stems or find your cabbage a tattered mess, it makes you want to lose your mind--like Bill Murray in that other movie where he had to deal with ground hogs. Here are some of the ways they drive us crazy.
If you have a woodchuck living on your property, there is a good chance you gave them a reason to. They love any yard that is overgrown, contains a garden, or has a few puddles to drink from. This animal can live on grass, weeds, clover and ornamentals, but it would much rather have some fruits or vegetables. If you own a garden, the first thing you're going to want to do is put a wire fence around it. But remember, this is a burrowing animal. You'll need to make sure your fence goes down at least a foot into the ground to stop him from digging his way under. Fencing is also a good way to keep other animals out of your garden. You may also consider planting a food source specifically for them, far away from your garden. Give them some alfalfa or some clover to chew on and they're more likely to leave your tomatoes alone.
Another way woodchucks can be a problem is when they burrow or tunnel under your foundation. If they move the right amount of dirt in the right place, it can affect the structure on top of the foundation. Their tunneling can warp sheds, barns and even decks. Protective skirting that goes over a foot into the ground can keep this burrowing animal from digging under these structures or harboring under them.
If a woodchuck has taken up residence on your land, contact a professional to have it safely removed. If you live in the Albany area, give your Albany wildlife removal experts at Thomas Pest Services a call. Don't let woodchucks drive you crazy. Call for a free inspection and send those woodchucks on their way.