What Threats Do Groundhogs Pose to Your Yard?

Hearing the word groundhog may bring to mind the well-known film Groundhog Day; and while Bill Murray may have won over our hearts in the movie, finding an actual groundhog on your property is a less than pleasant experience. While other wildlife experts are busy talking about bats in your attic or snakes under your home (which are also very real issues), many agents are able to address the damage that a groundhog can do to your property since they are experienced in knowing just what that damage might look like. So what can a groundhog do to your yard? Read on to learn more and visit groundhogtrapping.com for tips on how to get rid of these pests.

Eat Your Plants

One of the biggest concerns about groundhogs is that ... they eat. What's more, these creatures thoroughly enjoy gnawing on things; so if a groundhog has inhabited your yard, pretty soon you will likely see damage to your plants. You might either find them with bits missing or even gone completely depending on the mood of your groundhog in residence.

Threaten Your Garden

Like pretty much any other type of backyard pest, groundhogs are usually looking for a source of regular feeding, and they may have just found that in the shape of your fruit and vegetable patches. With their large, sharp incisors, they'll gladly eat their way through your garden patch and leave you without those fruits and vegetables you've worked so hard to cultivate.

Make Burrows

As their name suggests, groundhogs are largely underground creatures much like moles. This means that if one has decided to move in on your property, you're apt to discover groundhog mounds dotting your backyard. Be warned that groundhogs usually create extensive burrows with multiple entrances and feet upon feet of tunnels underneath. This can, of course, endanger you and your pets whenever you go out into the yard. It's not uncommon to sprain your ankle by stepping into a groundhog burrow, and they may pose even more serious risks. But these burrows don't only threaten you or your family—they may also have much graver consequences for your property. Should a groundhog start poking around under structures such as a shed, garage, or even your home, they may seriously destabilize the structure with their tunnels. In time, this can pose a serious threat to the safety of you and your family.

Endanger Animals

Although this isn't damage to your yard, per se, it's still a warning you should heed if you own pets. As mentioned, groundhogs have sharp, sturdy incisors that can cause deep, potentially life-threatening bites in small to medium-sized pets. And while a large dog will have no trouble killing a groundhog, it still runs the risk of getting injured in a potential confrontation. Smaller pets will be less likely to approach the groundhog for safety reasons, but they may still unwittingly become a target. So for the sake of everyone involved, you'll want to keep an eye out for those adorable little rodents.