Is it legal to trap groundhogs in Ohio?
7 min read
Asked by: Xavier Groves
In Ohio, it is legal for a homeowner to live-trap and relocate a nuisance groundhog with the landowner’s permission. It is also legal to release a groundhog on-site or humanely kill it. In Ohio, groundhog hunting is closed during the seven-day deer gun season (November 29-December 5, 2021; December 18-19, 2021).
Is it illegal to trap a groundhog in Ohio?
Nuisance groundhogs can be live-trapped and relocated with permission of the landowner. If you choose not to relocate the groundhog, they can either be released on-site where the animal was originally trapped or you may humanely kill it. Refer to the American Veterinary Medical Association for guidelines on euthanasia.
Is it legal to trap animals on your property in Ohio?
(4) It shall be unlawful for any person to trap or take nuisance wild animals on the lands of another without first obtaining permission from the owner or their authorized agent.
Can you live trap a groundhog?
The most effective way to remove a groundhog from your yard is with a live groundhog trap.
How do I get rid of an unwanted groundhog?
5 Natural Ways To Get Rid of Groundhogs
- Epsom Salts. Epsom salts sprinkled near or around the burrow entrances or exits will keep the groundhog away. …
- Human Hair Clippings. Clippings from your local barber or hairdresser can also work well because they dislike the scent of humans. …
- Soiled Kitty Litter. …
- Offensive Scents.
Do groundhogs destroy property?
If not properly controlled, groundhogs can cause serious structural damage when burrowing. Their tunnels break apart building foundations, and they will often chew through electrical wires and irrigation systems that may be in their way. For best results, use multiple groundhog control products at once.
How do farmers deal with groundhogs?
The most common method most farmers use is firearms, which can be deadly from point blank range to more than 600 yards away. Search “Pennsylvania groundhog hunting” on YouTube, and you will find several good videos of hunters eliminating groundhogs at long ranges.
What animals Can you trap in Ohio?
The current law requires a fur taker permit to hunt or trap all furbearing animals including fox, raccoon, opossum, skunk, weasel, mink, muskrat, beaver, river otter and coyote. An Ohio Department of Natural Resources rule, though, exempts coyotes from the fur taker permit.
Is it legal to use snares in Ohio?
(a) It shall be unlawful for a person to set, use, and maintain a snare for the purpose of taking furbearing animals that does not have a relaxing lock and a stop to prevent the opening of the snare from closing to a diameter of less than two and one half inches in diameter, or a relaxing lock system with a breaking …
Is it illegal to trap and relocate squirrels in Ohio?
Nuisance wild animals may be transferred to another for disposition in accordance with this rule. (4) It shall be unlawful for any person to trap or take nuisance wild animals on the lands of another without first obtaining permission from the owner or their authorized agent.
What do groundhogs hate the most?
Lavender and other plants with strong odors can keep groundhogs away. Groundhogs dislike the smell of herbs such as mint, sage, basil, rosemary, thyme, chives, and oregano.
How do I get rid of a groundhog under my shed?
Here are a few ideas:
- Pour ammonia around your shed and in any holes they’ve dug. …
- Place lawn windmills, windchimes, or a vibrating sonic device near your shed. …
- Adopt a dog or cat and encourage them to spend time sniffing around the shed.
- Spread human scent around your yard with hair clippings.
Does Irish spring soap keep groundhogs away?
For years, Irish Spring’s soap has been shaved and sprinkled in flower beds to keep animals away, but you need to keep an eye on the area as rain and watering will wash it away quickly.
Does human urine repel groundhogs?
Groundhog can’t tolerate the smell of human urine and this is why it is one of the best repellents to eliminate these rodents from the garden. Collect human urine in a bottle and sprinkle it in every few days in the entrance of their burrow, they will definitely leave the place.
How do you fill a groundhog hole?
And we're going to use the high pressure setting to flush the pellets all the way down to the bottom. And then i think they will expand. And if you have not completely filled the tunnel.
Do mothballs deter groundhogs?
Do Mothballs Keep Groundhogs Away? Groundhogs hate the smell of mothballs, but the truth is, they are just not strong enough to scare these rodents away. Some people report mild levels of success, but most people say mothballs don’t work at all.
How far down do groundhogs dig?
6 feet
They dig burrows that can be 6 feet (1.8 meters) deep, and 20 feet (6 m) wide. These underground homes can also have two to a dozen entrances, according to the National Wildlife Federation. Typically, they have a burrow in the woods for the winter and a burrow in grassy areas for the warmer months.
Can you poison a groundhog?
Poisoning Groundhogs
There aren’t really any specific groundhog poisons that have been formulated to kill the animals, but using other poison such as rat poison will still kill the groundhogs, as the substance is toxic enough to kill most small animals of that size.
What time are groundhogs most active?
Activity: Groundhogs are diurnal (active during the day) from spring to fall. Most activity occurs during the early morning and early evening hours, at which groundhogs emerge from their burrows to gather food. Hibernation: Groundhogs are true hibernators, entering a deep sleep in October and emerging in early spring.
What is the best bait for groundhogs?
cantaloupe
Place your trap near the burrow or area that the groundhog frequently visits. Then bait the trap, many people have had great success using sunflower seeds, peanut butter and corn, however cantaloupe is often the preferred bait.
Where does the dirt go when a groundhog dig a hole?
One of these areas is used exclusively as a latrine. The groundhog is a very clean animal and will deposit all its waste in this latrine area. After the latrine is full, the area is sealed off and another latrine area is dug. At times, the groundhog will remove the dried excrement and bury it outside the burrow.
Are groundhogs good for anything?
Soil Aeration
When digging, groundhogs help aerate soil. Roots, like all other parts of the plant, have to respire, taking in oxygen and emitting carbon dioxide. In unturned soil, roots deplete their limited oxygen while CO2accumulates, making it hard for them to ‘breathe.
What is the lifespan of a groundhog?
In the wild, groundhogs can live up to six years with two or three being average. In captivity, groundhogs reportedly live up to 14 years.
Do groundhogs eat squirrels?
They also eat acorns and other nuts. They will eat insects that they come across as they eat plants. Groundhogs are also known to eat meat such as chipmunks or other small mammals they have found dead or killed themselves.
Where do groundhogs sleep and poop?
“They actually poop underground. In their burrows system they have an area where they go to the bathroom,” MacGowan said. In fact, their burrows are quite extensive and groundhogs have been known to tunnel as far as three or four feet deep.
How many babies do groundhogs have?
4. Pregnancy goes by fast for them. Groundhog mating season is in the early spring and, after only a month-long pregnancy, mother groundhogs typically give birth to a litter of two to six blind, hairless babies. Young groundhogs are called kits, pups, or sometimes chucklings.
Can groundhogs run fast?
They can be compared to sprinters rather than long-distance runners. When frightened they run short distances for the closest burrow entrance. Their low-slung bodies typically move at 3 kph (1.86 mph), but when alarmed they gallop along at 16 kph (9.94 mph).
