What Do Groundhogs Hate The Most?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Plants with strong fragrances, such as

lavender

, will keep groundhogs out of your garden. The Farmers’ Almanac says groundhogs also dislike the smell of these herbs: mint, sage, basil, lemon balm, rosemary, thyme, chives and oregano.

What smells do groundhogs hate?


Lavender

– Try planting some lavender around the garden. While it smells lovely to us, groundhogs find it offensive and avoid the areas where it is. They also dislike the smell of these herbs: basil, chives, lemon balm, mint, sage, thyme, rosemary, and oregano.

Do groundhogs hate coffee grounds?

Maybe

the coffee smell will be a deterrent

. It’s a great soil amendent, in any case. Woodchucks seem to have very distinct foraging preferences — curcurbits, tomatillos, kale, and beans are greatly preferred.

What does cayenne pepper do to groundhogs?

Cayenne pepper – This pepper is best known for its bite but itâ€TMs also an

effective groundhog deterrent due to the smell and heat

. Simply pour cayenne pepper around the holes and youâ€TMre good.

What will scare groundhogs away?


Lavender

– Try planting some lavender around the garden. While it smells lovely to us, groundhogs find it offensive and avoid the areas where it is. They also dislike the smell of these herbs: basil, chives, lemon balm, mint, sage, thyme, rosemary, and oregano.

Is it bad to have a groundhog in your yard?

The short answer is

YES, you should

. Groundhogs, also known as woodchucks, are aggressive animals that are hard to get rid of when they invade your property. These rodents usually dig burrows in grassy areas and eat through gardens causing a lot of damage.

Does human urine keep groundhogs away?


Groundhogs do not like the smell of human urine

. A gross, but highly effective repellent is to collect urine in milk jugs and pour a bit at the entrance to the burrow every few days.

Can I pour ammonia down a groundhog hole?

With their food source gone, they will be forced to move to a new location that provides them with food.

Mix ammonia with washing detergent, vinegar, hot pepper and soap

and pour the mixture down each hole. This may have to be repeated for a few days until the groundhogs go away.

Will chili powder keep groundhogs away?

Groundhogs aren’t fond of hot, pungent or spicy scents and tastes. Keep groundhogs

away

from areas such as specific garden plants or old groundhog holes by sprinkling crushed fresh garlic, hot pepper sauce or hot pepper flakes around the perimeter.

Can you flood a groundhog hole?

Get a square bale. Take the mortars and bale to the groundhog hole, light the mortar, throw it as far down the hole as you can get, then drop the bale on top of the hole and sit on it. The blast will send a concussion wave through the tunnel and kill or at least seriously injure any groundhogs in the tunnel.

How do I get a groundhog out from under my shed?

The most effective remedy to get rid of a groundhog denning under your shed or porch is

by trapping and removing it

. The use of live traps to catch and relocate groundhogs is popular and it is known to be very effective. You may hire or buy a live trap as they are readily available.

How long does a groundhog live?

Lifespan: In the wild, groundhogs can live

up to six years with two or three being average

. In captivity, groundhogs reportedly live up to 14 years. Breeding: Groundhogs tend to be solitary except in the spring when a litter of four to six young are born. Litters of one to nine have been recorded.

Will a groundhog hurt a dog?

“Groundhogs do have large incisors like rodents do, so your dog stands a chance of being bitten. … While the groundhog may not threaten your pets,

it can be in danger from other predators

.

Are groundhogs good for anything?

A

groundhog will help itself to anything

and everything you have planted. They are vegetarians and are partial to leaves, flowers and grasses. They especially like certain garden crops like carrots, beans and peas. They will even climb trees to eat apples and pears.

What problems do groundhogs cause?

If not properly controlled, groundhogs can cause

serious structural damage when burrowing

. Their tunnels break apart building foundations, and they will often chew through electrical wires and irrigation systems that may be in their way.

Diane Mitchell
Author
Diane Mitchell
Diane Mitchell is an animal lover and trainer with over 15 years of experience working with a variety of animals, including dogs, cats, birds, and horses. She has worked with leading animal welfare organizations. Diane is passionate about promoting responsible pet ownership and educating pet owners on the best practices for training and caring for their furry friends.