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How to flush out a groundhog

Alright I have a real problem.A whole community of groundhogs has just made its home in my dams retaining wall. I have counted around five separate holes in the wall and have tried to smoke them out with around 5 separate smoke grenades, but apparently the tunnel system is much like the Viet Cong and are just to vast. I need to nail these rodents ASAP before they break through. Any help would be great thanks.

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65
Dr Qui says: Aug 17, 2010. 5:51 PM
Go rent the movie Caddyshack,  Bill Murry has some interesting ideas re pest control.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lYm0c7gYyU
2
crapflinger says: Aug 17, 2010. 10:41 AM
i know this whole post is old as dirt, but http://www.undergroundexterm.com/groundhog_extermination.html that is pure genius.
thenoogler says: Aug 17, 2010. 6:11 AM
Drop firecrackers down the hole, then finish it off with something. Seriously, drop a lot of them.
8
Punkguyta says: Oct 23, 2007. 9:21 AM
I would find a nearby fire hydrant and hook that shit up and blast them out so they are literlly flying out of the hole. Either that or use bear traps.
gyromild says: Oct 22, 2007. 10:00 AM
Is there any possibility that there are more holes that you haven't found? Perhaps some kind of secret emergency escape tunnel that they have? :D Before you do anything, I would suggest you locate all the holes. 1) Not so humane option, plug the holes, draw water from your dam to flood the tunnel network and try to drown them (or at least draw them out). 2) Another not so humane way, plug the holes, release propane / butane into the network. That could either flush them out or suffocate them. You can even light them up (optional). I don't think it will blow your dam up, but don't take my word, I've never had groundhog infested dam problem before.
38
Goodhart in reply to gyromildOct 22, 2007. 12:40 PM
Another not so humane way, plug the holes, release propane / butane into the network. That could either flush them out or suffocate them. You can even light them up (optional). I don't think it will blow your dam up, but don't take my word, I've never had groundhog infested dam problem before.

If the holes are "plugged" there is a definite likelihood of there being a bit of an explosion, or a mighty big pop anyways.
4
teaaddict314 says: Oct 21, 2007. 2:47 PM
post pics, i wanna see this damn dam
2
Sedgewick17 (author) in reply to teaaddict314Oct 21, 2007. 2:55 PM
There is not much to see unless you are into staring at dirt walls full of holes.
4
teaaddict314 in reply to Sedgewick17Oct 21, 2007. 7:08 PM
o i thought it was something like cinderblocks and the groundhogs were digging under it.... just grab a pitchfork and starting jabbing at those things... or go plug up some holes and put co2 through the thing... or rebuild the thing.... or go get some mouse traps and put some peanut butter or something on them, i would think that that would work for groundhogs too
38
Goodhart in reply to teaaddict314Oct 21, 2007. 9:29 PM
U|m, groundhogs are a wee bit bigger than your average "rat" so a rat trap would be a bit small. They do make "muskrat" traps "Conibear Traps are good for ths since you can "bridge the hole" with them, so you get them coming or going.
2
Sedgewick17 (author) says: Oct 21, 2007. 6:43 PM
Well, I did some more searching and I turned up a few more things. One website said to chuck something that smells really rank into the hole. Another website said to mixing soap and ammonium pored into there burrow will flush them out.
speedycrete says: Oct 21, 2007. 5:07 PM
better trap

This was invented for getting rid of Gophers, but pehaps they have one sized for your critters....or maybe they'll build a couple for you. A new market never hurts.

2
Sedgewick17 (author) says: Oct 21, 2007. 2:58 PM
I was thinking more about using smell or sound to drive the groundhog out.I have heard they do not like the smell of cat liter,but it could just be a myth.
5
Pat Sowers in reply to Sedgewick17Oct 21, 2007. 3:01 PM
I dont know about using cat liter because I tried and it didnt work for me.
2
jtobako in reply to Pat SowersOct 21, 2007. 4:41 PM
I heard dog, not cat, and it may have been moles instead of groundhogs. You could try someone's ferret...
2
Sedgewick17 (author) says: Oct 21, 2007. 2:44 PM
I have a 22 ,but no rattlesnakes(I hate snakes).I do not want to use poison because the chance that one of my animals could get second hand poisoning.I like the idea of using propane, but there are just to many holes and they seem to go fairly deep. I just need the groundhog to pop its head up for three seconds so I can take a good shot.
5
Pat Sowers in reply to Sedgewick17Oct 21, 2007. 2:50 PM
I was thinking that because propane is heavier than air it would sink into the inner parts of its home and choke it so it has to come to the surface for air
3
NachoMahma in reply to Pat SowersOct 21, 2007. 3:18 PM
. Good point. A little searching turns up:
  • Propane: 583.07 kg/m3
  • CO2 : 1.98 kg/m3
  • Argon: 1.784 g/L
  • Air: 1.2 kg/m3
. Figures courtesy of Wikipedia and here
5
Pat Sowers in reply to NachoMahmaOct 21, 2007. 3:20 PM
OMG I didnt know propane was that heavy!!!!!!!
3
NachoMahma in reply to Pat SowersOct 21, 2007. 3:24 PM
. I spent 7+ years working on an LPG (ethane, propane, butane, normal gasoline) pipeline and didn't realize it was that heavy (we always used SpG related to water).
5
Pat Sowers in reply to NachoMahmaOct 21, 2007. 3:26 PM
I wonder what the groundhogs would be thinking if they knew what we were all helping to plan.
3
NachoMahma in reply to NachoMahmaOct 21, 2007. 3:20 PM
. BTW, the figure for air is dry. In the real world it will be a little higher because of water vapor.
5
Pat Sowers says: Oct 21, 2007. 2:29 PM
Allow the ground hog to go into the hole. Then hook a propane tank to a hose and stick the hose in the hole. Let the gas out and have someone by each hole with a gun or bow. If it dosent come out and you are a nuts person then light the propane and blow them to kingdom come. ( I would try that last one if I were you because you would probably kill yourself :p )
3
NachoMahma in reply to Pat SowersOct 21, 2007. 2:36 PM
. Hmmmmm. Good idea, but I think I would substitute CO2, Argon, or other inert gas (you can get them at just about any welding supply store) for the propane. I'd be afraid that an explosion would weaken the dam.
5
Pat Sowers in reply to NachoMahmaOct 21, 2007. 2:45 PM
It would be a bit frightening if the propane exploded! I just know that it worked when I tried it, oh and so did an M-80 but that was just in the ground not in the dam.
3
NachoMahma in reply to Pat SowersOct 21, 2007. 2:46 PM
. Hard to argue with success. ;)
5
Pat Sowers in reply to NachoMahmaOct 21, 2007. 3:02 PM
:)
3
NachoMahma says: Oct 21, 2007. 2:56 PM
. I found these by Googling groundhog +exterminat
. Lots more hits that looked good, but I'll leave the digging to you. ;)
43
Brennn10 says: Oct 21, 2007. 2:36 PM
I have heard stories of flamethrowers, fire, and other idiotic ideas. I think it is best to call a professional.
3
NachoMahma says: Oct 21, 2007. 2:31 PM
, Just talked to a friend that has a small earthen dam, but I'm not sure either of his recommendations are what you're looking for. 1) A .22 caliber rifle 2) Rattlesnakes . Evidently, he's used both methods to get rid of nutras in his dam, but he lives in the rural South. ;) . He also said that if groundhogs are a protected species in your area then you are, uh, fornicated (not exactly the word he used).
3
NachoMahma says: Oct 21, 2007. 2:20 PM
. If you can't/won't use poison, you need to call a pro to trap them. You're right, you need to get rid of them ASAP. . It might run them off if you keep messing with them, but it may just make them burrow deeper. . I've heard you can flood them out, but I don't think mud makes a very good dam.
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