Huge fat groundhog in my back yard

[Anonymous]

I live a block from Rock Creek Park, so I shouldn't be surprised at the wildlife I get. For the past two weeks or so there's been a huge fat groundhog in my yard. I've been doing a ton of work over the last several years to get rid of invasives and plant native plants for the birds and butterflies, etc. and I'm concerned that this groundhog (which obviously is also a native species) is going to undo all my work. I feel conflicted because I know how little habitat native species have left (Rock Creek Park is essentially a biological wasteland because of all the invasives).

Any suggestions or advice? Are there companies that will do trap and release? (And don't suggest a .22, because that's not happening in my very densely populated suburban area.) Or should I just live with it and hope that maybe it eats the weeds rather than everything I've planted on purpose?

[Anonymous]

Do groundhogs ruin gardens? My parents have had a groundhog in their backyard for over a decade (I guess it’s not the same one this whole time lol) but he’s never bothered with their garden or anything. They grow a huge vegetable garden and have flowers and everything. The groundhog just minds his own business.

[Anonymous]

They burrow under your porch/deck/house and cause foundation issues. They are just obese rats.

[Anonymous]

If you don’t want to use a .22, may I suggest a 17hmr?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They burrow under your porch/deck/house and cause foundation issues. They are just obese rats.

+1 We trapped one using a cage we bought at Home Depot. You can do a catch/release or pay a company to trap/release it in a wildlife preserve.

And those things can also be vicious.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/nh-man-narrowly-escapes-attack-groundhog-article-1.2018022

[Anonymous]

When is spring coming?

[Anonymous]

You will want to remove the excess fat before cooking. If it is an older animal I suggest parboiling with onion and celery before breading and frying.

[Anonymous]

Geez - leave the ground hog be. They come out at dusk and eat plants - is that really going to harm you in some way? Why the heck did you move in next to a park??
They are not social animals (I volunteered at a wildlife center for years- maybe you should try that too) so there shouldn’t be more of them and they sure won’t be interested in hanging out with you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They burrow under your porch/deck/house and cause foundation issues. They are just obese rats.

My guess is that so are you. You’re a way bigger bag too - where’s my 22?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They burrow under your porch/deck/house and cause foundation issues. They are just obese rats.

My guess is that so are you. You’re a way bigger bag too - where’s my 22?

[Anonymous]

We have two, and we coexist. They eat stuff in the garden sometimes. Humans are rampant pests, so I don't mind losing a tomato or two to a little guy just trying to survive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I live a block from Rock Creek Park, so I shouldn't be surprised at the wildlife I get. For the past two weeks or so there's been a huge fat groundhog in my yard. I've been doing a ton of work over the last several years to get rid of invasives and plant native plants for the birds and butterflies, etc. and I'm concerned that this groundhog (which obviously is also a native species) is going to undo all my work. I feel conflicted because I know how little habitat native species have left (Rock Creek Park is essentially a biological wasteland because of all the invasives).

Any suggestions or advice? Are there companies that will do trap and release? (And don't suggest a .22, because that's not happening in my very densely populated suburban area.) Or should I just live with it and hope that maybe it eats the weeds rather than everything I've planted on purpose?

Do you have brain cells in your head? Do you not know how to build a garden fence or hire one to do so?
You do realize that any animal can come up and eat any of your garden if there’s no fence, right?
Deer, rabbits, foxes, raccoons, squirrels, birds - ever seen any of those?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They burrow under your porch/deck/house and cause foundation issues. They are just obese rats.

My guess is that so are you. You’re a way bigger bag too - where’s my 22?

[Anonymous]

Capture him and rehome him in the exburbs where people have souls.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Geez - leave the ground hog be. They come out at dusk and eat plants - is that really going to harm you in some way? Why the heck did you move in next to a park??
They are not social animals (I volunteered at a wildlife center for years- maybe you should try that too) so there shouldn’t be more of them and they sure won’t be interested in hanging out with you.

+1

OP, chill.