new pest in my yard

cneary812 · 08-21-2007, 10:22 AM

Ok over this past weekend I was washing my truck and went to turn off the water when I noticed a large weed growing next the house by the gas meter. I grab a shovel and proceed to cut it down. As I get ready to cut it I noticed a hole in the ground next to my meter under my bay window... I fill it in... My wife (6 months preganet) goes out the front door to go to the store and screams that something just ran across her legs and under the window. It was a groundhog. The bugger made a home under my window. I saw him under there.

Now the fun part... Should I just go to the tractor supply store and buy the 40.00 live trap or what do you suggest. I do have a 9mm but I think my neighbors might frown upon me using it so any suggestions would be appreciated.

chris

**konigfritz** · 08-21-2007, 10:30 AM

LMAO!! groundhogs are a pain in theeee butt!

I've never seen one build a house at someones house. If you are going to livetrap, you will need a big one. they are pretty clever. Animal Control may get rid of him for you if you call them and explain the situation.

They used to make smoke bombs for their tunnels, but they may have been outlawed by now.

9mm will work, if you live outside the city limits.

Good luck!

**walleeme** · 08-21-2007, 10:33 AM

3 words: Gamo Pellet Gun

cneary812 · 08-21-2007, 10:36 AM

Thanks guys lol

I will call animal control and see what they tell me.

**konigfritz** · 08-21-2007, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by walleeme

3 words: Gamo Pellet Gun

good luck with that. I've seen some GH's that won't go down with a .22 LR!

Nuke · 08-21-2007, 10:38 AM

A .22 short shell (not long-rifle), shot from a .22 rifle is really quiet.

If you want to risk the 9-mm, get some shot shells. That way you won't ricocet and hit the Titan. Also good for home defense if you have a family, neighbors, etc.

cneary812 · 08-21-2007, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nuke

A .22 short shell (not long-rifle), shot from a .22 rifle is really quiet.

If you want to risk the 9-mm, get some shot shells. That way you won't ricocet and hit the Titan. Also good for home defense if you have a family, neighbors, etc.

so you wouldnt recommend using hydrashocks

lol

cneary812 · 08-21-2007, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by konigfritz

good luck with that. I've seen some GH's that won't go down with a .22 LR!

you need to load the gun first

dss90c · 08-21-2007, 11:10 AM

I was actually able to get rid of one under my shed by using an old wives' tale - mothballs. I couldn't believe it worked! I wanted to use the .40 cal, but I don't think the neighbors would have liked that too much.

2tall · 08-21-2007, 11:20 AM

They actually still have smoke bombs up here in Mass. I was looking at them the other day when trying to figure out how to decrease my chipmunk population MINUS the small arm fire.. Lol

BTW If that monster is near your gas line, I wouldn't be blowin rounds off.. Damn that is one way of getting rid of pests.

Krodad · 08-21-2007, 11:41 AM

Get the live trap...you may have another one or maybe even young ones down there that need trapping later.

You can let the bugger go somewhere, or, if you have a CO2 tank, just put him down and out. I do this for the ground squirrels...saves me the mess from shooting them, and the trip to release.

cneary812 · 08-21-2007, 11:49 AM

I talked to Animal control and they suggested stuffing ammonia soked rags into the hole and covering it up. I will give this a try first because it is cheaper and easy. If this doesn't work then

cneary812 · 08-21-2007, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dss90c

I was actually able to get rid of one under my shed by using an old wives' tale - mothballs. I couldn't believe it worked! I wanted to use the .40 cal, but I don't think the neighbors would have liked that too much.

Did you just dump a box of mothballs in the hole?

Juday · 08-21-2007, 12:25 PM

ha, funny story...I used to be hired by a guy to kill his groundhogs at his house. He tried everything to get rid of them (bleach, smoke, etc.), but nothing worked...until I showed up. Nothing like a .17 HMR bullet through the head.

Anyways, I know how big of a pain those creatures can be and I wish you the best of luck with whatever method you find.

P.S. A groundhog would laugh at a "Gamo Pellet Gun" shot at him. That gamo might work on squirrels and chipmunks, but a groundhog is a little bigger with much tougher skin (well not really skin, more like fat).

tnbowhunter · 08-21-2007, 12:47 PM

I like your first suggestion the best. [live trap] Groundhogs seldom do any real harm, unless you have cattle or horses, in fact we NEVER kill them here on the farm. We live trap Raccoons that raid the vegetable garden and relocate them. Foxes get a pass because there are so few of them. Coyotes on the other hand are shot on sight.

Why don't you just do what we do..............name him and call it a "pet."