Wintertime woodchucks

Jesse lackey

Jesse lackey

New member
OK, I have a farmer with bad woodchuck problem under his barn. He doesn't really want to wait till spring to get them, but said he will if need be. My question is how do I get them now in the winter? Anything goes.
 
My understanding is the Groundhogs, actually hibernate,at least that's what I was told by a Ohio game warden one time. What exactly it takes to put them into hibernation I'm not sure, I imagine it is the temperature.

I know that when I lived in NW Ohio, I seen one on Christmas day one year, it was however a very warm winter and was probably in the 40's that day.

So, that all being said, I doubt your going to see them much more this year, especially in Mi.

You could probably try some bait, maybe carrots or something in the front of the holes. If you just want to get rid of them you could try traps.

Or you could always try some smoke bombs down the holes, not sure how the fits with the laws or your ethics.

But I'm betting your waiting till spring.
 
Ditto. Ask him if he sees them while it is cold. Offer to come out if you get any abnormally warm and sunny days and try to pop a few.
 
In Michigan , smoking or burning them out is a huge no no. HOWEVER if they are causing damage I think a fella should do what he needs to. Contact local C.O.- don't know what part of the state you're in but I know my local officer is very understanding. They also offer a "Wildlife Damage Investigation and Control Permit". NOW if say a hose was left running and fell into one of their holes or maybe the exhaust from a car somehow got piped into said hole...well...whatcha gonna do? accidents happen;-)
 
get the ole tractor out...hook the exhaust up to the hole and plug the existing holes...go have a cup of coffee and let it run...they will be in the clowds when you get back....
 
I like the exhaust idea. Otherwise they wont wake up till first of march. Im a chuck slayer but my pet chucki raised last summer is hibernating in my yard. People think im wierd cuz j have one as a pet and still wipe em out.
 
I live in southeast Michigan and you're pretty much screwed until warm weather. Unless you can force them out of their holes. Just a few weeks ago we had got several inches of rain in a day or two and it must of flooded some holes because one woodchuck must've thought my German Shepherds dog house was a good place to stay. Needless to say that was the last idea that woodchuck ever had. My dog sure was proud though.lol

The exhaust trick with a diesel engine works wonders though. I'm a farmer and they can be pretty tough on soybeans, we have to protect our crops. So a piece of solid 4" field tile goes over the exhaust on the pickup and the other end down the hole. Just in case one comes out ( generally don't) we'll have someone ready with a shotgun.
 
Fill in all holes/entrances but one. Then light 1/2 of a road flare and push it as deeply down the remaining entrance as possible.......then close off that entrance. Trust me, everything living in that den will expire! Farmers do it around here all the time!
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