Comments on: Okay You’ve Trapped the Beast: Now What? http://www.veggiegardeningtips.com/okay-youve-trapped-the-beast-now-what/ Featuring Vegetable Gardening Tips, Organic Growing Techniques, and Unique Plants for the Backyard Gardener Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:11:01 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Kenny Point http://www.veggiegardeningtips.com/okay-youve-trapped-the-beast-now-what/#comment-68973 Kenny Point Thu, 17 Jul 2008 02:49:56 +0000 http://www.veggiegardeningtips.com/okay-youve-trapped-the-beast-now-what/#comment-68973 Margaret, I guess your groundhogs could find their way back but I doubt that they would put much effort into returning even if they could. Although I had a friend that was trapping possums and swore that the same one was returning so he marked it with a touch of paint and sure enough he trapped the same animal again. Evidently it was smart enough to find its way back home but not smart enough to stay out of the trap! Gerri, maybe Animal Control has worked out some kind of agreement with those groundhogs just to keep themselves busy! :-) Maybe you could follow them the next time they leave with a groundhog. I really would try to relocate the critters... they may leave your ornamentals alone for now but that may change next year or when the the triplets begin raising families of their own. Simon, good luck with the rabbits... maybe you need a nice dog to convince the rabbits to move on to greener pastures. Margaret, I guess your groundhogs could find their way back but I doubt that they would put much effort into returning even if they could. Although I had a friend that was trapping possums and swore that the same one was returning so he marked it with a touch of paint and sure enough he trapped the same animal again. Evidently it was smart enough to find its way back home but not smart enough to stay out of the trap!
Gerri, maybe Animal Control has worked out some kind of agreement with those groundhogs just to keep themselves busy! :-) Maybe you could follow them the next time they leave with a groundhog. I really would try to relocate the critters… they may leave your ornamentals alone for now but that may change next year or when the the triplets begin raising families of their own.
Simon, good luck with the rabbits… maybe you need a nice dog to convince the rabbits to move on to greener pastures.

]]> By: Simon http://www.veggiegardeningtips.com/okay-youve-trapped-the-beast-now-what/#comment-68950 Simon Thu, 17 Jul 2008 01:15:26 +0000 http://www.veggiegardeningtips.com/okay-youve-trapped-the-beast-now-what/#comment-68950 I've recently bought a "Havahart" electric fence. I'm hoping that this will keep the critters out. By the way... im finding that ive got more of a rabbit problem than groundhogs. Ive shot 2 groundhogs.. but 8 rabbits... now finally we crops are recovering. I’ve recently bought a “Havahart” electric fence. I’m hoping that this will keep the critters out. By the way… im finding that ive got more of a rabbit problem than groundhogs. Ive shot 2 groundhogs.. but 8 rabbits… now finally we crops are recovering.

]]> By: Gerri http://www.veggiegardeningtips.com/okay-youve-trapped-the-beast-now-what/#comment-68929 Gerri Wed, 16 Jul 2008 22:41:07 +0000 http://www.veggiegardeningtips.com/okay-youve-trapped-the-beast-now-what/#comment-68929 Animal control has been in my neighborhood for two months trapping groundhogs and they keep coming back. I'm wondering if they are taking them around the corner and letting them go or what.. I don't hate the groundhogs, I just wish I could have a veggie garden. There is a pretty cute set of triplet babies that we've watched grow this season. They leave my ornamental plants alone for the most part and I saw one chewing on a weed once so I guess they can stay... and honestly, what choice in the matter do I have really? Animal control has been in my neighborhood for two months trapping groundhogs and they keep coming back. I’m wondering if they are taking them around the corner and letting them go or what.. I don’t hate the groundhogs, I just wish I could have a veggie garden. There is a pretty cute set of triplet babies that we’ve watched grow this season. They leave my ornamental plants alone for the most part and I saw one chewing on a weed once so I guess they can stay… and honestly, what choice in the matter do I have really?

]]> By: Margaret http://www.veggiegardeningtips.com/okay-youve-trapped-the-beast-now-what/#comment-68904 Margaret Wed, 16 Jul 2008 15:57:00 +0000 http://www.veggiegardeningtips.com/okay-youve-trapped-the-beast-now-what/#comment-68904 Just found your info on catching groundhogs--so far this season I've trapped 6 and my neighbor got 1. I was researching groundhog's range when I found this article--some of the ones I trapped look awfully familiar and I'm wondering if they're smart enough to find their way back but not smart enought not to get caught again. I've been taking them across a significant river to a commercial/industrial area where there are weedy, overgrown lots and areas of trees, a large stream and the aforesaid river. If they didn't take the bridge and swam the river, though, they're probably not even two miles from their former home. Do you think they can come home? Just found your info on catching groundhogs–so far this season I’ve trapped 6 and my neighbor got 1. I was researching groundhog’s range when I found this article–some of the ones I trapped look awfully familiar and I’m wondering if they’re smart enough to find their way back but not smart enought not to get caught again. I’ve been taking them across a significant river to a commercial/industrial area where there are weedy, overgrown lots and areas of trees, a large stream and the aforesaid river. If they didn’t take the bridge and swam the river, though, they’re probably not even two miles from their former home. Do you think they can come home?

]]> By: Simon http://www.veggiegardeningtips.com/okay-youve-trapped-the-beast-now-what/#comment-59962 Simon Mon, 28 Apr 2008 18:58:04 +0000 http://www.veggiegardeningtips.com/okay-youve-trapped-the-beast-now-what/#comment-59962 Interesting, my trap only ever caught skunks. I use a .22 air rifle now, its a quick kill. No more woodchucks for me. Interesting, my trap only ever caught skunks. I use a .22 air rifle now, its a quick kill. No more woodchucks for me.

]]> By: Gerri http://www.veggiegardeningtips.com/okay-youve-trapped-the-beast-now-what/#comment-26664 Gerri Wed, 12 Sep 2007 03:34:18 +0000 http://www.veggiegardeningtips.com/okay-youve-trapped-the-beast-now-what/#comment-26664 Hi There Again, Thanks for your reply about my groundhog problem. I've come to some decisions about the problem, for now. Seeing as how my plants are already decimated for the season, I have been researching local pumpkin farms to visit this year with my 3 year old son. I think he will get a kick out of that, probably just as much as he would be growing his own. I've decided not to hold a grudge against the groundhog. My family owns a restaurant and I have been having them save the veggie scraps for me and so each evening I go out with the scraps and "slop the hog". Since there is nothing left in my garden for him to eat, I thought he might be hungry. I can hear you screaming. Please don't :) I'm an animal lover at heart, and I love even the destructive ones. I don't want him to starve or go near my pool and drown so I am trying to appease him in the area that he is in. I was afraid to foul his house because I thought that he might go up near the pool and it's always tragic when I find an animal in there and I feel terrible about it. I am devising a plan for next year, while trying to keep everyone happy for the remainder of this season. Next year I will either build a fence, or I will make the decision to trap and relocate the groundhog before he can produce hoglets. I've also read about fox urine as a repellant.. umm.. who and how do they collect fox urine? But then repelling him is not really an option unless I treat my entire yard.. because of the water hazard. Another option I thought of was to possibly research if there is anything that groundhogs definitely won't eat, and try to grow that next year. I thought he wouldn't touch peppers, but seeing as how the pumpkins are now gone he has decided that pumpkins and eggplants are palatable. So I am not really sure that there is anything he won't eat. I did see him chewing on a weed the other day, and I thank him for that at least. Anyway, I did not mean to write a book here, I just wanted to thank you for your information about the trap and release method. You make sense on the matter and I really do wonder now what they base the stats of survival on.. do they track the animals after the release to determine that they have a low survival rate after relocation? I would think, as you stated, that if they are released in an area that provides food and shelter that they would most likely be fine. My hog sure seems to be tough enough. Unless maybe the stress of moving gets to them? I've read conflicting information about the emotional composition of groundhogs. Some say they are shy, some say they definitely aren't. Mine seems middle of the road. he will come out and watch me water and isn't afraid of pinwheels but if I am at the window and see him, and make a noise in the house he will run away. The noise is usually my son yelling "LOOK MOMMY, it's HIM!" Thanks again, maybe next year I'll start a garden blog to share my war stories. :) Gerri Hi There Again,

Thanks for your reply about my groundhog problem. I’ve come to some decisions about the problem, for now.

Seeing as how my plants are already decimated for the season, I have been researching local pumpkin farms to visit this year with my 3 year old son. I think he will get a kick out of that, probably just as much as he would be growing his own.

I’ve decided not to hold a grudge against the groundhog. My family owns a restaurant and I have been having them save the veggie scraps for me and so each evening I go out with the scraps and “slop the hog”. Since there is nothing left in my garden for him to eat, I thought he might be hungry.

I can hear you screaming. Please don’t :) I’m an animal lover at heart, and I love even the destructive ones. I don’t want him to starve or go near my pool and drown so I am trying to appease him in the area that he is in. I was afraid to foul his house because I thought that he might go up near the pool and it’s always tragic when I find an animal in there and I feel terrible about it.

I am devising a plan for next year, while trying to keep everyone happy for the remainder of this season. Next year I will either build a fence, or I will make the decision to trap and relocate the groundhog before he can produce hoglets. I’ve also read about fox urine as a repellant.. umm.. who and how do they collect fox urine? But then repelling him is not really an option unless I treat my entire yard.. because of the water hazard.

Another option I thought of was to possibly research if there is anything that groundhogs definitely won’t eat, and try to grow that next year. I thought he wouldn’t touch peppers, but seeing as how the pumpkins are now gone he has decided that pumpkins and eggplants are palatable. So I am not really sure that there is anything he won’t eat. I did see him chewing on a weed the other day, and I thank him for that at least.

Anyway, I did not mean to write a book here, I just wanted to thank you for your information about the trap and release method. You make sense on the matter and I really do wonder now what they base the stats of survival on.. do they track the animals after the release to determine that they have a low survival rate after relocation? I would think, as you stated, that if they are released in an area that provides food and shelter that they would most likely be fine. My hog sure seems to be tough enough. Unless maybe the stress of moving gets to them? I’ve read conflicting information about the emotional composition of groundhogs. Some say they are shy, some say they definitely aren’t. Mine seems middle of the road. he will come out and watch me water and isn’t afraid of pinwheels but if I am at the window and see him, and make a noise in the house he will run away. The noise is usually my son yelling “LOOK MOMMY, it’s HIM!”

Thanks again, maybe next year I’ll start a garden blog to share my war stories. :)

Gerri

]]> By: Emma http://www.veggiegardeningtips.com/okay-youve-trapped-the-beast-now-what/#comment-25171 Emma Fri, 31 Aug 2007 14:19:46 +0000 http://www.veggiegardeningtips.com/okay-youve-trapped-the-beast-now-what/#comment-25171 LOL, the squirrelies are nothing compared to the dog who thinks that my garden is really the lost Eden on the other side of the fence and his goal in life is to dig under/around/through the fence to get to the promised land! That and he keeps the squirrels away when he's awake! LOL, the squirrelies are nothing compared to the dog who thinks that my garden is really the lost Eden on the other side of the fence and his goal in life is to dig under/around/through the fence to get to the promised land! That and he keeps the squirrels away when he’s awake!

]]> By: Kenny Point http://www.veggiegardeningtips.com/okay-youve-trapped-the-beast-now-what/#comment-25104 Kenny Point Fri, 31 Aug 2007 03:44:28 +0000 http://www.veggiegardeningtips.com/okay-youve-trapped-the-beast-now-what/#comment-25104 Hi Emma, Marc has been by and we've talked a little bit about dealing with groundhog problems. Count you blessings if you don't have any groundhogs in the vicinity of your garden, but those squirrels can become a nuisance also. Hi Emma, Marc has been by and we’ve talked a little bit about dealing with groundhog problems. Count you blessings if you don’t have any groundhogs in the vicinity of your garden, but those squirrels can become a nuisance also.

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