Groundhog Problem at Work

[Anikaca77]

Ok so it was just brought to my attention that we have a groundhog that is very large living outside my building at work. The owner would love to shot it or run him over and I told them that I would trap it and release it elsewhere.

Why do I get myself involved in these situations. I just contacted a wildlife place and hopefully they will be ableto come out and trap it.

We'll see.

Melissa

[happylabs]

Hmmmmmm...what is the groundhog doing that bothers the owner? I know they dig holes and chew on wood because I have a family of them living under my old shed and they seem to love the type of wood it is made out of. I just let them alone and they don't bother me much.

[Husky_mom]

you certainly did the right thing.. the thing he should´ve thought of first.. hopefully they can go and trap to relocate...

and you ,as anyone here too, gets involved is because we love life and every creature deserves good treatment.. and if we can help.. you bet we´ll do it..

[Freedom]

Good for you!! And you found someone who will actually DO the trapping? WOW! So far, all you've done is some research and a phone call. So don't feel too badly. Keep us up on how it goes!

[Catherinedana]

People are so ready to kill other creatures that actually BELONG there in the first place. There is something very wrong with the world, but I think we on PT all know that already!!

I have moles in my backyard and since I don't have a lawn (horrible things, lawns!) and my yard is basically xerophilic and, admittedly, quite overgrown, I don't care! We just have to be careful of soft spots when we walk. Several people have said, "You have to kill them because they will destroy your plants and eat everything". WRONG! They eat BUGS! Yay! We need more creatures in Florida that eat the palmettos and wood roaches and earwigs (does anything actually eat them?) etc that overrun the place. The moles also aerate the soil and so are good for gardens. . .unless you have the dreaded LAWN, which their burrows will destroy.

OK- sorry for the tirade. I get crazy. . .

[Anikaca77]

Well I know work is not going to pay $350 to have someone come out here to get rid of a groundhog so it looks like maybe tomorrow night I'll set up the trap and see what happens and take him elsewhere and release him.

Melissa



Thank you for your inquiry. Set up of multiple traps and one return trip is 350 plus tax, any additional trips are billed separately at 115 plus tax.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Melissa
Sent: Wednesday, October 07, 2009 9:42 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Groundhog at work
Importance: High


Hi-

I was wondering how could I go about trapping and releasing a groundhog?

We have a pretty large size groundhog that has dug a pretty big hole outside our building and the owners would like it removed and I'm trying to safe it's life by releasing it elsewhere.

Can you give me any tips about how to go about this or how much it would cost to have you come out and get him?

Thanks,
Melissa

[Catherinedana]

Never actually saw a ground hog so I did some research and Googled them. Found these pictures. . .the second one is a bit worrisome. . .

[lvpets2002]

Melissa be so carefull & dont get bit.. I think the live traping & releaseing is a great idea.. However I would report this to a Game Warden that knows how to handle wild live animals & he is paid by the state to do these jobs.. So he cannot charge you anything..

[Anikaca77]

I call the PA Game Comission and they won't come out. They only handle dead deers mostly. The said I could contact someone from the Pest Control and they could handle it but I don't want this animal to get killed.

I'll be extra careful

Thanks,
Melissa

[lvpets2002]

MMmm sounds like some Lazy Buttss.. Here in Tx they will come out.. Well get you some thick gloves for when you pickup the trap to load for just in case his claws or he starts snapping the trap.. Just be carefull..

[Anikaca77]

Will do

I've been bitten before by cats, wonder if it will feel the same.

But I'm going to try to avoid that as much as possible. I have to contact my friend who cat traps first and see when I can pick one up. I really need to get one of my own but I just don't have the room to store one.

Thanks,
melissa

[Puckstop31]

Unless the law has changed in PA... Hired animal control companies are required to destroy any woodchucks they capture alive. They are classified as a pest. So if you want to move the animal, but keep it alive you will have to aquire a live catch trap and do it yourself.

You can get live catch traps at Bass Pro Shops and other such places. If you choose to do this, please be very, very careful. They can carry rabies and the animal will NOT be happy while in the trap.

Good Luck

[Anikaca77]

I will be very careful. I can't see putting this animal down just because he chose to dig near our building and semi-under it.

I've never seen it, apparently they say it's huge. I don't want it euthanized and I'll take gloves so he doesn't bite me hopefully

Thanks,
Melissa

[Puckstop31]

Something like this...

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/st..._SearchResults


This will allow you to trap, move and then release the animal without touching it. Just be sure to move it at least a few miles away from where you catch it. It would be best to release it in a park or something similar and NOT near a farm.

[Cinder & Smoke]

Interesting Groundhog article >>>
http://www.pvewildlife.com/groundhogs.htm

Here's the Trapper Guy's home page >>>
http://www.pvewildlife.com/index.htm