Burrowing animal damage & remedies for groundhog & gopher problems:

This article describes the types of damage caused by groundhogs, whistle pigs, woodchucks, gophers, moles and other burrowing animals. These include building leaks, foundation damage, and even septic drainfield damage.

We describe the various remedies for getting rid of pesky groundhogs or gophers and we recommend against a few of them.

We include an anecdote about Laura Waterman giving a groundhog a ride in her car with some exciting results. Get outta town!

These Groundhog chronicles report on a series of steps to finally get rid of a groundhog pest after testing groundhog repellents and using a groundhog trap.

Our page top photo shows a beautiful black groundhog on the Vassar College campus in Poughkeepsie, New York at dusk (I used a flash so his beady little eyes glint menacingly - click to enlarge the image). Watch out: especially if cornered, a frightened animal is as likely to bite you as to run away.

Dealing with pesky Groundhogs, Gophers, & Other Burrowers

There are common areas of building or site damage that can occur from groundhogs, gophers, woodchucks & other burrowing animals.

Types of Building & Site Damage from Burrowing Animals:

Burrows near the foundation wall

Burrows from ground hogs (whistle pigs) near a building foundation wall and occasionally the smaller gopher hole can capture and direct roof spillage or surface runoff (photo at left) right down against the building foundation wall.

Burrows by gophers or groundhogs in soakaway beds, septic systems

Groundhog tunnels through septic fields or mound systems interrupt the seepage of wastewater into the soil and may allow it to appear on a downslope surface, creating unsanitary and smelly conditions.

Below in our reader Q&A we include an example of just this problem, risking septic failure.

And some site features such

as LAGOON SEPTIC SYSTEMS can be destroyed by a burrowing animal.

Falling hazards

Burrows anywhere on a property may create trip & fall hazards and may contribute to local SINKHOLES

Foundation damage

Burrowing animals can lead to undermined footings, even foundation wall collapses.

See SINKING BUILDINGS.

Remedies for Groundhog, Mole or Gopher Pests, Burrows, Holes

Try a gopher or groundhog repellent

Koehler et als (1990) and other experts discuss olfactory repellents along with other means to scare off animal pests while Roswell, Ritcey et als (1979) discuss the humaneness of this approach.

These products are available as liquids (intended for spraying on those plants whose tender budding tips are caviar to groundhogs, and as granules intended for sprinkling around gopher holes or groundhog burrows to invite those animals to move out.

The manufacturers of groundhog repellent products use a range of ingredients such as blood, garlic, herbs, and animal urine with what in our tests (below) give varying success.

Urine to repel gophers & groundhogs

I've tried dog pee, human pee, cat pee right into the gopher hole.

(Don't try this if the gopher is at home or you may have a scary experience.) Pee by anyone, human or animal, was ineffective as a groundhog repellent. They just don't care.

Some pest repellent products (for deer and other plant eaters) contain coyote urine that may be less delicious to your animal pests.

At GROUNDHOG CONTROL we report on the success (or lack of it) using various groundhog repellent products and the ultimate resort to use of a groundhog trap.

Bleach to repel groundhogs & gophers

Watch out: don't try this. I poured a gallon of household bleach into a groundhog burrow at the base of one of our pine trees. The gopher did move out but it killed the tree, too.

Animal traps for groundhogs or gophers & other pests

I recommend hiring a professional, licensed trapper.

Below we show a HavaHart animal trap that can be used to catch and remove groundhogs without harming them (other than their mental state).

Animal-killing traps are also available but are not an approach we could recommend in a neighborhood where there are children and pets roaming around.

Watch out: In many communities, trapping and moving animals is illegal unless you are licensed.

Illegal groundhog trap and release warning: Laura gets a Summons

Plagued by a groundhog living under our barn-garage, Laura Waterman borrowed a gopher trap. It worked - sort-of. She came home, found a groundhog really really mad in the trap.

With stunning courage, Laura got the trap into the trunk of her car figuring she'd decide where to release the groundhog later. Picking up Mara at the babysitter, Laura saw a big open field near some apartments.

"Gee, that'd be a nice place for the gopher," she thought.

Laura got the trap out of the trunk and with some trepidation, planned to release the groundhog without getting bitten or peed-upon (the floor of the trunk of her car was another matter - CAR ODORS - ANIMALS).

Unfortunately a woman in one of the apartments also took a glance out their window and saw Laura opening the trunk of her old Mercedes and then releasing a groundhog in their yard.

That person, unlike groundhogs and possums, had great vision and was able to jot down Laura Waterman's car license tag number. The lady came out and threatened to call the sheriff.

The groundhog was still in the cage. Laura put the cage back in her car and let it out at a different location. The whistlepig didn't try to get back into the car with Laura, maybe because of her driving, I don't know.

The groundhog was mad (and terrified) enough to bite someone but it was more scared of Laura. Taking a brief glance over its shoulder the hoglet dashed off into the field.

Gopher Killing Devices

You can rent or buy spring-loaded devices that plunge downwards when the gopher passes by in its burrow, killing it in place and leaving the animal buried, and close to the surface, smelling for a time.

Watch out: some of these devices are a child hazard as well.

Poisons for groundhogs & gophers

Poisons can work if you can be sure who's going to eat the poison (not another animal, child or pet), and if you don't care where the dead animal ends up.

Watch out: Animal poisoning may be illegal in your neighborhood. Check with your local animal control officer or health or building department.

Below we list examples of groundhog repellent products from several manufacturers. These are not poisons, and in my experience, they were also not effective.

We also list some groundhog killers.

 

Groundhog Gopher & Other Animal Pest Repellent Articles, Products

Groundhog, Mole & Similar Animal Repellents

• Bonide Products Inc., 6301 Sutliff Rd., Oriskany, NY 13424 Tel: 315-736-8231 produces Shotgun® animal repellents and other products, Website: http://www.bonide.com
• Havahart Wild Animal Control, Havahart® Groundhog Repellents include a Spray Away hose-free motion activated sprinkler, granular repellents, liquid sprays. Tel: 1-855-HAVAHART, Email: consumercare@woodstream.com, Website: http://www.havahart.com Havahart is operated by Woodstream Corp., a privately held company.
• Imustgarden Groundhog Repellent, I Must Garden, LLC, 1289 N. Fordham Blvd., Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA Tel: 877-446-2929
  Ingredients include egg solids, rosemary oil, thyme oil, garlic and clove oil and other inert ingredients.
• Ortho® Products, Animal B Gon, Repellent spray sold to repel rabbits, groundhogs, squirrels, other small herbivores. Described as "no stink formula using essential oils. Website: http://www.ortho.com
• Shake-Away Organic Pest Product, Fox Urine Granule Groundhog Repellent, described as "Create the illusion that a fox is routinely visiting your flowers beds or gardens. This non-toxic formula is ideal for use around edible produce. 100% organic." Shake-Away 2330 Whitney Avenue Hamden CT 06518 Toll Free 1-800-517-9207 Website: http://www.shake-away.com

Ultrasonic mole or groundhog repellent devices?

Watch out: about sonic or ultrasonic mole, groundhog etc. repellent devices independent experts such as Timm (2003) and Koehler (1990) conclude:

Ultrasonic, vibrating, and electromagnetic devices as currently available generally lack effectiveness and are of little practical value.

• Nikand, Gopher Repellent Ultrasonic Solar Powered - Mole Repellent Stakes,
  Product description excerpt:
  
  Mole repellers emitted 3-4s sonic pulses for every 30 seconds, it penetrates the soil and also forces pests to evacuate the area through which the sound is traveling. After which your garden will be free from rodents.
• Ninghaim Solar Pest Repeller, Ninghai County Xidian Town Aibo Plastic Factory (China), solar powered ultrasonic gopher, mole, vole, mouse repeller device.

Groundhog, Mole, Gopher Poisons

• Atlas Chemical Corp., The Giant Destroyer Gas Killer, Kills Moles, Gophers, Woodchucks, Norway Rats, Skunks, Ground Squirrels. Online vendors, garden suppliers.
  
  Label excerpts: ( Watch out: emphasis added by editor)
  
  Watch out: Warning: causes eye irritation. After ignition cartridge produces toxic gases such as oxides of sulfur and carbon monoxide. Fumes from ignited cartridge may be harmful if inhaled.
  ...
  Watch out: This product is highly toxic to wildlife. Check all burrows for signs of non-target species. If present do not treat burrows.
  
  Watch out: It is a federal offense to use any pesticide in a manner that results in the death of an endangered species. See package insert for complete environmental hazards text ...
• Bonide, Bonide Gophertox Gopher Killer (poison bait granules), Bonide Corporation.
  
  Principal ingredient: Zinc phosphide, CAS No 1314-84-7
  
  Product description:
  
  Gopher Tox Mole, and Gopher Killer. Designed for Western U.S. only, but not for New York State. Formula attracts, and kills pocket gophers, and moles in lawns, golf courses, flower beds, and other non-crop areas. Mole, and Gopher Killer consists of cracked corn treated with Zinc Phosphide. Should not be applied to gardens, or areas which food may be contaminated.
  
  See this Bonide Gophertox MSDS [PDF]

• Qualirey Quick Mole Traps, (shown above), sold at online vendors, Walmart, etc.
  Product description excerpt:
  
  Sensitive and Fast: the trigger system is composed of a latch lever and activator plate, once the device is triggered by a slight movement, the spears will be released immediately to catch and kill a mole that passes
  
  Watch out: Animal trapping, killing, etc. may be illegal where you live. Check with your local authorities before using a mole or groundhog killer.

Groundhog, Mole, Gopher Pest Control Research

• ANIMAL DAMAGE to BUILDINGS
• Braband, Lynn A., and Kevin D. Clark. "Perspectives on wildlife nuisance control: Results of a wildlife damage control firm's customer survey." In Fifth Eastern Wildlife Damage Control Conference (1991), p. 8. 1991.
• Burch, Monte. Solving Squirrel Problems: How to Keep This Ubiquitous Pest Out of Home and Garden. Globe Pequot, 2003.
• Byford, James L. "Combat wildlife damage with commonsense control methods." American Nurseryman 165, no. 8 (1987): 91-94.
• Carson, Rachel. "Managing Wildlife that Become Pests." Gardening for the Birds (1999): 167.
• Curtis, Paul D., and Kristi L. Sullivan. "Woodchucks."
• Davis, John J. "The relation of animal pest control to conservation." In Proceedings of the Indiana Academy of Science, vol. 34, pp. 375-382. 2012.
• Harper, Craig A., and Aubrey L. Deck. "PB1624 Managing Nuisance Animals and Associated Damage around the Home." (2012).
• Harley, Ruth. Pest-Proofing Your Garden. Vol. 15. Storey Publishing, 1997.
• Hershey, Dan. The Critter Control Handbook: Pro Secrets for Stopping Sneaky Squirrels & Other Crafty Critters in Their Tracks. Voyageur Press (MN), 2002.
• Koehler, Ann E., Rex E. Marsh, and Terrell P. Salmon. "Frightening methods and devices/stimuli to prevent mammal damage--a review." (1990).
  Local copy on file as
  
  Excerpt from Conclusions:
  
  Ultrasonic, vibrating, and electromagnetic devices as currently available generally lack effectiveness and are of little practical value.
• Lyon, William F., and Wood Rot. "Ohio State University Extension Fact Sheet." Entomology," House Dust Mites", reprinted (1998): 1-4.
• Ober, Holly K., and Arlo Kane. "How to Use Deterrents to Stop Damage Caused by Nuisance Wildlife in Your Yard." (2012).
• Pierce, Robert A., Rex Martensen, and Seth R. Swafford. "Solving Wildlife Damage Problems in Missouri." Extension publications (MU) (2011).
• Ritcey, J. "ASSESSMENT _ (_) _F HUMANENESS Q_F_ VERTEBRATE PESTICIDES." (1979).
• Rowsell, H. C., J. Ritcey, and F. Cox. "Assessment of humaneness of vertebrate pesticides." Proceedings of the Canadian Association for Laboratory Animal Science. The Canadian Association for Laboratory Animal Science, Calgary, Canada (1979): 236-249.
• Salehi, Samira Shams, Ali Rajabpour, Arash Rasekh, and Mohammad Farkhari. "Repellency and some biological effects of different ultrasonic waves on Mediterranean flour moth, Ephestia kuehniella (Zeller)(Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)." Journal of Stored Products Research 69 (2016): 14-21.
• Timm, R. M. (2003). Devices for vertebrate pest control: Are they of value?. In Fagerstone, K.A. & Witmer, G.W. (Eds.), The Tenth Wildlife Damage Management Conference (152-161). Hot Springs, AR: National Wildlife Research Center.
  Description:
  
  Electromagnetic, sonic, and ultrasonic devices claiming effectiveness in controlling rodents and other pests have seen resurgence in the marketplace. Laboratory and field tests of such devices have generally failed to show they are effective, despite advertising claims.
  
  Rodent burrow exploders have been marketed for use against pocket gophers, ground squirrels, prairie dogs, and other burrowing rodents since the 1980s. Field tests indicate these exploders are expensive to use and typically provide unacceptably low efficacy.
  
  Vehicle-mounted devices to scare deer off roadways, with many claiming to generate ultrasonic sound, have been widely sold. Studies reveal that deer are unable to hear ultrasonic sound, and that the devices appear to have no effect on deer behavior.
  
  While Federal regulatory agencies have authority to prohibit false and misleading statements in advertising of such devices, enforcement actions and scientific testing on which regulatory actions are based are expensive and time-consuming, and agencies are resource-limited.
• Yardman, Barbara M. Crawl, Fly Or Run. AuthorHouse, 2009.

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Reader Q&A - also see RECOMMENDED ARTICLES & FAQs

Gopher hole damage to septic drainfields - LOVE your website - has been very helpful!

(Oct 3, 2012) Kelly said:

LOVE your website - has been very helpful! But at the end of this article it says "the answers to these questions will help you make sense out of the diagnostic suggestions in the articles that follow." Uhhhh . . there is no list or links to 'articles that follow'. Help! ;-))

I bought my house 3 years ago; long-story short - never got much of a septic inspection. Was told my drain field was in the back yard; which is where the tank is. Well My neighbor and I were detecting sewage odors this afternoon. I've traced the odor to where I have an RV parked (has been there for 3 years - tanks are empty). There are a couple of new gopher holes under the RV. Odor was very strong here; lessens when I leave the area.

I guess I have to assume this is where the drain field is but it is toward the front of the house - about 30 feet away from the front door; the tank is about 20 ft behind the house.

Would the drain field really be placed toward the front of the property? The property is level - and large - 2/3 acre; desert sand/loam. If I see no water and have no backups in the house, and no sewage odors in the house

Could the gopher holes actually be pulling odors from the drain field? Do I just need to relocate my RV and bury the new gopher holes?

How deep is a typical drain field. House was built in 1950; new tank installed about 5 years ago. Have no knowledge of the drain field components. How serious could this be?

Thanks in advance!!

Reply: ditch the gophers and fill the gopher ditch & other possible odor sources

Thanks Kelly, I've edited the text for clarity. The septic odor diagnosis articles appear in the More Reading links at the end of the article above.

Gophers can dig rather large and long holes and tunnels through ground including around and in septic drainfields. The results can include odor transmission as well as serious drainfield operating problems

Imagine a gravel-filled trench into which we send septic effluent, hoping that the wastewater will seep into the soil where aerobic and anaerobic bacteria further break down pathogens in the wastewater.

That takes time and relies on water seeping through and into the soil for both disposal and treatment.

Now imagine a pesky gopher drills into the drainfield and gives a nice clear "pipe" that sends septic effluent directly downhill to daylight. The soakaway bed no longer works and both sewage effluent and odors are transported to the surface.

There can of course be other reasons for drainfield odors such as a clogged drainfield that is at end of life, or a drainfield that floods due to surface runoff. Both of those also can be a source of odors.

See TRACK SEPTIC ODORS to SOURCE and

see SEPTIC ODORS INDICATING DRAINFIELD FAILURE

Septic drainfields are located on a property depending on a number of considerations: clearance distances from wells, boundaries, lakes, streams, soil conditions, space requirements.

See SEPTIC DRAINFIELD LOCATION for help finding yours.

Question: water flowing out of the gopher holes in my septic mound system

We have gopher holes at one end of our mound system field. Water flows easily out of this hole area now—especially after a morning of showers, two loads of laundry, etc. Any way for a simple repair on this?
Thanks! - B.W. 4/29/2014

Reply:

Those gophers must not mind smelly water. A simple repair? I'm not sure.

One needs to remove and discourage the gophers, then fill in completely their burrows. Otherwise the effluent will indeed find a quick and easy path to daylight. Hire a local animal removal service to start.

Watch out: if water (probably septic effluent) is flowing out of your septic mound, the mound has been damaged, isn't working properly, and risks or may already be in failure. I suggest asking a local septic mound installer to take a look at the installation.

 

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Continue reading at GROUNDHOG CONTROL or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see these

Recommended Articles

• ANIMAL DAMAGE to BUILDINGS - home
• ANIMAL ENTRY POINTS in BUILDINGS
• GOPHER HOLE DAMAGE
• GROUNDHOG CONTROL
• SOIL PROPERTIES & BUILDING FAILURES
• TOILETS, DON'T FLUSH LIST - don't try dumping castor oil down the toilet to drive off gophers or groundhogs

Suggested citation for this web page

GOPHER HOLE DAMAGE at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.

Or see this

INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to ANIMAL PESTS, ALLERGENS, HAZARDS

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Citations & References

In addition to any citations in the article above, a full list is available on request.

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