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Groundhogs Extermination - Pest Control Woodchucks

The groundhog, or woodchuck, is one of 14 species of marmots. These destructive rodents live a feast-or-famine lifestyle and gorge themselves all summer to build up plentiful reserves of fat. After the first frost, they retreat to their underground burrows and snooze until spring, drawing their sustenance from body fat. While hibernating, the animal's heart rate plunges, and its body temperature is not much warmer than the temperature inside its burrow.

The greater part of a woodchucks or groundhogs day is spent in the burrow presumably sleeping. Feeding periods vary according to weather conditions and the season. During the cool days of early spring, it is most active during the warmer parts of the morning and afternoon. However, during the summer, the warmest parts of the day are spent in the cool burrow and feeding occurs during the very early morning and again at dusk. Woodchucks and groundhogs are least active on cool, rainy days.

Woodchucks enter hibernation beginning mid-October and emerge during February. They mate shortly after emergence, with a single litter of four to six young born a month later (March April). The young leave the nest in early July to establish their own burrows and territories. Woodchucks live an average of 4-6 years.

An understanding of burrow construction and of the movement of woodchucks and groundhogs within and around crop fields is important for effective control programs. Too often, only temporary control is achieved because the number of active burrows and or the number of woodchucks/groundhogs within a field and its surrounding area is underestimated. Woodchucks and groundhogs usually construct two types of dens: winter dens and summer dens. Winter dens are often located within wooded or brushy areas and serve as hibernation chambers, although occasionally they are used year round. These dens have only one opening, with the hibernation chamber situated below a tree or stump for protection against intruders. The winter den is abandoned by the woodchucks several weeks after they emerge from hibernation.

The animals then move into nearby grassy meadows or crop fields and construct their summer dens. Soybean, clover, alfalfa, and corn fields are particularly favored for summer den locations. Summer dens contain between one and five openings, but typically there is one main entrance and one or more escape or "plunge" holes. The plunge holes are often well concealed among vegetation and may even be plugged. If a den has been in use for several years or by several generations of woodchucks, the burrow system may be complex, lengthy and contain several openings.

It should also be noted that adult woodchucks and groundhogs often construct more than one summer burrow system within a field. Thus, there are auxiliary burrows as well as main or "home" burrows. Because the auxiliary burrows are used for refuge to escape danger during the animals' daily foraging activities, there may be constant back and forth movement between dens during the summer.

The average burrow system is located about 2-4 feet underground and extends horizontally 15-25 feet (or more) (Figure 1). The main nest chamber is generally located at the end of the burrow system, but additional nests may be constructed in any part of the burrow. The main entrance to the burrow is characterized by a mound of fresh earth around the opening as well as by numerous trails leading to the feeding areas and auxiliary burrow systems. When other animals such as rabbits, skunks, foxes, or badgers are using woodchuck burrows, the fresh earth mound is absent at the entrance.

The daily home range of woodchucks varies considerably. In favorable habitats, such as a soybean field, woodchucks may forage only 20-30 yards from their home dens. In less favorable habitats, such as woodlots, road edges, yards, etc., the woodchuck may travel several hundred yards daily to reach feeding areas. Generally, only one or two adult woodchucks will inhabit one acre, although occasionally there may be more. Woodchucks are territorial and defend their dens against other woodchucks except during the breeding season when the adult male and female will occupy the same den.

Treating woodchucks and groundhogs is generally the same as other open hole burrow animals such as ground squirrels and prairie dogs. In most rural areas where combination treatment on pocket gophers or moles are made in the early mornings, this activity may help in keeping most woodchucks and groundhogs in their burrows for later applications.

Application of the Rodenator to woodchucks and groundhogs has a high success rate because the animals retreat into their burrows at any sign of danger.

When making your first application to a burrow entrance, the resulting underground shockwave will also exit through connecting tunnels that are part of the treated burrow system. The resulting smoke, steam and debris, exiting these holes show you what has just been treated.

Rodenator Pest Control Methods for Woodchucks and Groundhogs

The key to effectively maintaining control of woodchucks and groundhogs with the Rodenator process is to treat every burrow system that does not appear to have been part of the initial application and immediately fill-inn these holes with dirt, pack them tight and level any mounds.

This method will reduce the chance of re-infestation by migrating or neighboring woodchucks, skunks, badgers and such. By filling in these holes, you will be ale to see if the woodchuck has dug back into the burrow system.

When performing the application, please observe the safety protocols as detailed in Operators Manual, especially for R1 users.

Making your Application

Before starting your work, carefully plan your application area. Start by locating the entrance of the burrows. Place marker flags to identify the burrow entrances. Most woodchuck / groundhogs burrows have large mounds for their main entrance and single air or escape hole that is considerably smaller and may not have a mound.

It is important to know the location of all holes when performing the application in order to properly position yourself away from the exiting shockwave.

Insert the Nozzle

The nozzle of the Rodenator device needs to be inserted into the entrance of the burrow (the hole) as deep as possible in order to place the gas mixture properly. This also assures that the gas mixture is not being drawn out of the hole by any slight breeze.

Note: For maximum effectiveness, try to avoid applications to woodchuck / groundhog burrows on windy days. If you do perform applications when windy, a flame-proof cloth, damp towel or rag placed behind the applicator nozzle during the injection process will assist in preventing the gas mixture from being drawn out by a breeze.

Inject the Gas Mixture

Inject the gas into the hole using the Gas Timing Chart for woodchucks and groundhogs. Perform your application with a watch or stop watch to accurately dispense the gas into the tunnel.

Igniting the Gas Mixture

Immediately after releasing the gas, (close the ball valve on R1 units) depress the ignition button to detonate the oxy/fuel mixture.

Cover the Hole After the Application Shot

To assure that the application was successful and to prevent re-invasion of another animal into the burrow, immediately after the application, the hole should be buried an packed shut.

Follow-up

Carefully examine the previous days work. Repeat the same application process for reopened burrows. When the infestation in the area is acute, repeated gas applications are often necessary.

Evaluation

During the application process, the sound coming from the burrow opening may vary. In most cases, the target may have a large opening and the sound may be as loud as a shotgun blast.

You may be able to reduce the sound by packing dirt around the nozzle during the injection of the gas mixture.

Woodchucks - Groundhogs Timing Chart: