What Animals Live in Old Ground Hog Dens

Woodchuck (groundhog)
Photo by: Lesley Mattuchio, world wide web.treknature.com

The woodchuck (Marmota monax), a member of the squirrel family, is common throughout Indiana. It can exist found in open pastures, woodlots, cultivated and fallow fields, and along railroad embankments, ditch banks, roadsides, fence rows, and levees. In cropping areas, woodchucks consume soybeans, corn and alfalfa. The extensive burrowing activities of woodchucks in fields can interfere with farm operations, cause harm to equipment, injury to livestock, and create pregnant erosion problems in levees, pond dams and railroad embankments. Around private homes, one or two woodchucks are capable of ruining a small-scale garden almost overnight.

Woodchucks should non be viewed every bit pests merely, however; their burrows often provide refuge for other wildlife such as rabbits, opossums, raccoons, skunks, foxes, and even some game birds. They also contribute to the aeration and mixing of the soil through their burrowing activities. Moreover, many people derive enjoyment from watching these rodents since they are ane of the few large wild mammals usually seen during the day. Thus, woodchucks are an interesting part of our wild fauna and should be controlled only when they become troublesome.

Only chipmunks can besides exist serious subversive pests when they get numerous around homes and gardens. The burrowing action of chipmunks tin can crusade significant structural impairment past undermining foundations, physical patios and steps, retaining walls and sidewalks. They may also exist destructive to gardens when they dig up and eat bulbs and seeds or attack garden fruits.

The woodchuck is a stocky animal weighing betwixt 4 and 14 pounds and having short, powerful legs, pocket-size ears and a brusque, bushy tail. The body fur is long, coarse, and grizzled grayish-dark-brown in colour. There are four-clawed toes on each front foot and five toes on the hind feet. Its short, stocky appearance gives the impression that the woodchuck crouches close to the ground as information technology moves about. Thus, the animal is ofttimes referred to equally a "groundhog."

Developed weight:	5-10 lbs.
Total length:	xvi-20 inches.
Color:	Grizzled brownish gray.
Gestation:	32 days.
Litter size:	iv-6.
Life bridge:	4-six years.

The woodchuck is a vegetarian. Various grasses, clover, alfalfa, plantain, and other types of tender light-green succulents make upward its diet. In crop areas, information technology is especially fond of the soybean plant, but it will also feed on young corn plants and even ears in the milk stage. An adult woodchuck consumes betwixt ane and 1-1/ii pounds of vegetation daily.

The greater function of a woodchuck'south day is spent in the burrow presumably sleeping. Feeding periods vary according to atmospheric condition weather and the season. During the cool days of early on spring, information technology is most agile during the warmer parts of the morning and afternoon. However, during the summer, the warmest parts of the 24-hour interval are spent in the cool burrow and feeding occurs during the very early on morning and again at dusk. Woodchucks are to the lowest degree active on cool, rainy days.

Woodchucks enter hibernation kickoff mid-Oct and emerge during February. They mate soon afterwards emergence, with a single litter of 4 to 6 young born a month after (March-April). The young leave the nest in early July to found their own burrows and territories. Woodchucks alive an average of 4-6 years.

An understanding of burrow construction and of the movement of woodchucks within and around crop fields is important for effective control programs. Too often, only temporary command is achieved because the number of active burrows and/or the number of woodchucks inside a field and its surrounding area is underestimated. Woodchucks usually construct two types of dens: winter dens and summertime dens. Winter dens are frequently located within wooded or brushy areas and serve as hibernation chambers, although occasionally they are used yr circular. These dens have only 1 opening, with the hibernation chamber situated below a tree or stump for protection confronting intruders. The winter den is abandoned by the woodchucks several weeks afterwards they sally 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. Summertime dens comprise between one and v openings, but typically there is one primary archway and 1 or more than escape or "plunge" holes. The plunge holes are often well concealed among vegetation and may even exist plugged. If a den has been in use for several years or by several generations of woodchucks, the burrow organisation may exist complex, lengthy and contain several openings.

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

The average burrow system is located near 2-iv feet underground and extends horizontally 15-25 feet (or more) (Figure 1). The chief nest chamber is mostly located at the end of the couch system, but boosted nests may be constructed in any function of the couch. The main archway to the burrow is characterized past a mound of fresh earth around the opening every bit 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 archway. Also, various types of animal remains and carrion are oftentimes found around the entrances to dens used by skunks, foxes and badgers.

Fig. ane. Diagram of a typical woodchuck burrow.

The daily home range of woodchucks varies considerably. In favorable habitats, such every bit a soybean field, woodchucks may fodder simply 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. Mostly, only one or two developed woodchucks will inhabit 1 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.

Command efforts should be carried out during early spring when agile burrows are like shooting fish in a barrel to notice, the young woodchucks have not yet scattered, and there is less likelihood of harming other wildlife.

Woodchucks are most practically controlled in crop fields via fumigation of their dens or by shooting. Around buildings or high burn chance areas, or where it is desirable to control the woodchucks with a nonlethal approach, live-trapping is the safest and most advisable ways.

If the woodchuck population is large, it is important that control programs be systematic and encompass the affected field and areas surrounding the field (Figure 2). Particular attending should be given to well drained protected areas, wooded crop borders and weedy fence rows. All active burrows should be flagged to assist in rechecking and retreating afterwards. If the affected area includes adjoining farms, cooperation should exist sought from the neighboring farmers. Without a thorough program and cooperation among land owners, long-term control results are probable to exist poor considering exterminated woodchucks volition be replaced by invading individuals from surrounding areas.

Fig. 2. A two acre expanse of a soybean field during mid-summer with woodchuck den locations, move between dens, dwelling ranges, and feeding areas noted.

Fumigation

Fumigating woodchuck burrows is achieved using gas cartridges. When ignited, these cartridges release carbon monoxide into the burrow system, killing the woodchuck. Gas cartridges are bachelor from local farm supply stores and some canton Extension offices.

Gas cartridges should be used as follows:

Locate the main burrow opening (identified past mound of fresh excavated soil) and all other secondary entrances associated with the burrow system.
With a spade, cut a dodder of sod slightly larger than each opening. Place the sod about each archway.
To prepare the gas cartridge for ignition, follow the written instructions on the label.
Kneel at the burrow opening, light the fuse, and immediately place (do non throw) the cartridge every bit far down the hole as possible. Gas cartridges are not bombs and will non explode. A long stick can exist used to aid in pushing the cartridge deep into the burrow.
Immediately subsequently placing the cartridge in the burrow, close the primary opening by placing the slice of precut sod, grass side down, over the opening. Make a tight seal with loose soil. (Placing sod grass side downwardly prevents smothering the cartridge with dirt.)
Stand up by for three-4 minutes and scout couch holes. Seal those from which fume is escaping.
If holes nearby the primary archway exercise not showroom smoke following treatment, these burrows should too be treated.
Echo these steps until all couch systems accept been treated in and around problem areas.

Circumspection should be taken to avert prolonged breathing of gas cartridge fume. As well, since sparks may be thrown, gas cartridges should non be used near buildings or any combustible materials.

For all-time results, burrows should exist treated on absurd, rainy days or during periods of inactivity on other days. Because vacant burrows may be reoccupied by individuals from adjoining areas, all fumigated burrows should exist rechecked weekly for one month. Any reoccupied burrows should be retreated. Fumigation should not exist washed afterwards September since most woodchucks will be in hibernation and the hibernating sleeping accommodation is often "walled off," rendering a fumigation treatment ineffective.

Live-Trapping

It is easy to live-trap woodchucks from around buildings or directly outside their dens in crop fields using either the Tomahawk No. 108, 108.5, 608, 608.5, or the Havahart Nos. 3, 3A or 1079. Set the live trap in the trail immediately in front of the chief burrow archway (Effigy 3). Logs, twigs, or stones placed on either side of the path between the burrow opening and the trap will assist in funneling the fauna toward the trap. If a double door trap model is used, set both doors of the trap open up. Good baits for woodchucks include apple slices, carrots, sweet corn, and fresh lettuce.

Fig. 3. Wiremesh live trap.

Helpful tips

Woodchucks can be encouraged to enter alive traps by providing a natural footing of world on the lesser of the trap. To practice this, push the trap dorsum and along on the footing to work the lesser of the trap into the earth.
Lay out a trail of 2-3 small pieces of food spaced about 5 feet autonomously, leading straight into the trap. This will encourage the woodchuck to consume his way straight into the alive trap. Place the majority of the allurement inside the trap beyond the trap trigger.
Prior to setting your alive traps, set and jump each trap a couple of times to ensure the trap machinery is functioning properly.
To minimize stress and injury to trapped animals, check traps mid-morning and again before dusk.
Traps containing animals should be covered with an former blanket or covered in another mode. Trapped animals tend to remain calm when kept in darkness.
Should potentially dangerous animals such equally feral cats or dogs be caught in the traps, they should be brought to the local humane lodge or animal shelter for proper treatment, or consult these organizations for the most humane method of disposal or handling.
Whatever non-target wildlife (e.g., local pets, birds, etc.) inadvertently captured should be set costless immediately.
Never, e'er attempt to pet, handle or harass whatever captured woodchuck equally some tin be vicious biters and posses extremely sharp teeth and powerful claws.
Captured woodchucks should be relocated at to the lowest degree v miles from the trap site and released in an area where they will not cause a problem for someone else.

Live traps may exist rented from local humane societies and beast shelters. They tin can also be purchased from those companies listed at the end of this publication. However, such traps are relatively expensive and their purchase is difficult to justify unless woodchucks, and other similar-sized animals (e.g., raccoons, opossums, rabbits, squirrels) pose a regular nuisance to the holding owner.

Shooting

Where legal and safe, the quickest and surest method of eliminating woodchucks is to shoot them with a "varmint burglarize" (east.m., scope sighted .243 quotient). A patient marksman can significantly reduce a local woodchuck population in a few days. Hunt during periods of greatest activity on fairweather days.

The information given herein is for educational purposes but. Reference to commercial products or merchandise names is made with the agreement that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by State or Federal Agencies is implied. This programme serves people of all ages regardless of socioeconomic level, race, colour, sex, religion, disability, or national origin. The Wildlife Conflicts Data Hotline is a cooperative programme of the United states Section of Agriculture – Beast and Plant Wellness Inspection Service – Wildlife Services, Indiana Department of Natural Resources-Division of Fish & Wildlife, and Purdue Cooperative Extension Service.

Lewis Hungloned