Site-wide updates this weekend and next week!

Greetings all,

We're excited to announce tons of page updates this weekend. We have added and changed things on every page - some more than others - to help create a more easily navigated site.

• You'll notice that all of our footer navagation bars have been expanded.
• We have added a press release tab to our top navagation bar and changed our text logo a bit.
• We revised our sitemap to better reflect the CrittergetterOnline.Com website.
• A Chipmunks & Chipmunk Control guide has been added
• A Pocket Gophers & Pocket Gopher Control guide has been added
• Chipmunk & Pocket Gopher sections have been added to our Critter Quick Start box on our home page at: CrittergetterOnline.Com
  

Plus much, much more!
Please see our update list below and check back during the upcoming week for more !

Cheers,
CrittergetterOnline.Com


updated/added pages:

Mole control, Vole control, Gopher control: Crittergetteronline Home -
Why Use The Crittergetter? -
What is The Crittergetter? -
Sizing Instructions -
Our Products -
Tips & Tricks -
Critter Profiles -
Our Guarantee & Return Policy -
Terms & Legal Stuff -
Resource Directory -
Contact Us & Leave Feedback -
Privacy Policy -
Press Room -
Gophers & Gopher Control -
Moles & Mole Control -
Voles & Vole Control -
Woodchucks & Woodchuck Control -
Chipmunks & Chipmunk Control -
Pocket Gophers & Pocket Gopher Control -
Sitemap

Woodchucks and Woodchuck Control - Part 9 of 9 - Woodchuck Control Methods

This article may be viewed in its entirety on our website Vole control, Mole control, Gopher control: Crittergetteronline Home. Select your desired link from the "Critter Confused" navigation box on the left.

Please see our Resource Directory for links to retailers who sell many of the Woodchuck Control products mentioned below.

Repellants

• Predator Odors (Coyote urine, Fox urine, etc.)
  
• Windmills (whirly-birds) - sound emitting
  
• Scarecrow - must be moved often
  

Toxicants

• There are not currently any registered woodchuck baits available on the market
  

Fumigants

• Carbon monoxide from engine exhaust or agricultural cartridges.
  
• Aluminum phosphide
  
  
  
Trapping

• Many different types of both live and kill traps are currently available for woodchuck control.
  
  
  
Miscellaneous

• Shooting - the woodchuck is categorized as a game animal in many states, a valid license may be required - check with your local authorities.
  
• Professional abatement
  
• Owl box installation - useful against young and juvenile woodchucks due to their small size; limited effectiveness on the mature woodchuck.
  

Acknowledgment:

• Rene M. Bollengier. Jr., 1994. Woodchucks: Prevention and control of wildlife damage. Assistant Regional Director (retired). USDA-APHIS Animal Damage Control.
  
• University of Michigan Museum of Zoology - Animal Diversity Web
  

Recent Website updates/changes:

Many sitewide changes starting tomorrow!

Mole control, Chipmunk control, Gopher control: Crittergetteronline Home - Adding Chipmunks to Quick Start section tomorrow with Gophers, Moles, Woodchucks, and Voles - Lots more coming soon.

Woodchucks and Woodchuck Control - Part 8 of 9 - Woodchuck Damage Prevention

This article may be viewed in its entirety on our website Vole control, Mole control, Gopher control: Crittergetteronline Home. Select your desired link from the "Critter Confused" navigation box on the left.

Preventative measures should always be taken to protect new crops and vegetable gardens that are placed into a woodchuck habitat. Since the woodchuck is primarily a surface forager, fencing is the most effective way to keep these animals out, however, diligence must be observer in the selection of a fencing material due to the woodchucks ability to climb over and through them. The fence should be a minimum of three feet in height with hole spacing no greater than 2 inches and the bottom of the fence should be buried 10 to 12 inches into the ground to prevent tunnel-under. If the woodchuck appears to successfully scale the fence to gain access, the top of the fence can be bent away from the garden (unsupported - do not make this bent section rigid) or a low voltage electric top wire can be added as a deterrent - available at some hardware and most feed stores (check for legality of this application in your area prior to use).

Underground cabling should always be installed inside conduit or protected in some manner anywhere burrowing animals - gophers, moles, voles, prairie dogs, squirrels, chipmunks, shrews, etc) may be present.

Scarecrows have limited effectiveness unless they are moved frequently. The use of loose clothing or moving objects on the scarecrow may increase its success.

Acknowledgment:

• Rene M. Bollengier. Jr., 1994. Woodchucks: Prevention and control of wildlife damage. Assistant Regional Director (retired). USDA-APHIS Animal Damage Control.
  
• University of Michigan Museum of Zoology - Animal Diversity Web
  

Recent Website updates/changes:

Woodchucks and Woodchuck Control - Part 7 of 9 - Woodchuck Damage

This article may be viewed in its entirety on our website Vole control, Mole control, Gopher control: Crittergetteronline Home. Select your desired link from the "Critter Confused" navigation box on the left.

Due to the exploding population of the woodchuck and expectation of continued increase in their numbers as a result of continuing deforestation, the woodchuck can and probably will in the future be blamed for substantial farm and crop damage if control measures are not put into place. The "drop holes" (please see our "Where Woodchucks Live") and large den openings that the woodchuck creates pose a considerable hazard to horses and other livestock. These openings and dens have been documented to cause numerous broken legs to animals due to either misplaced footing or burrow cave-ins. In addition to livestock hazards, it has also been documented that these same woodchuck dangers can cause serious damage to farm equipment. The crops for which the woodchuck has an affinity - alfalfa, corn, many types of beans, oats, and even some fruits, among others - it will travel a great distance to access and can cause an enormous amount of damage to in a short period of time, especially when these crops are frequented by a number of woodchucks.

Unprotected underground cabling (electrical, telephone, etc) may be susceptible to woodchuck damage.

Woodchuck gnawing has damaged rubber automotive hoses.

The woodchuck also has been known to undermine sections of foundation or wall in the construction of its den, nesting chamber, and hibernation chamber. These types of voids can cause foundation fractures, wall failure, and levy damage.

Acknowledgment:

• Rene M. Bollengier. Jr., 1994. Woodchucks: Prevention and control of wildlife damage. Assistant Regional Director (retired). USDA-APHIS Animal Damage Control.
  
• University of Michigan Museum of Zoology - Animal Diversity Web
  

Recent Website updates/changes:

Woodchucks and Woodchuck Control - Part 6 of 9 - Woodchuck Facts

This article may be viewed in its entirety on our website Vole control, Mole control, Gopher control: Crittergetteronline Home. Select your desired link from the "Critter Confused" navigation box on the left.

Unlike the gopher and mole the woodchuck is a surface grazer typically found eating grasses, forbs, clover, leaves of sassafras and other trees, numerous herbs, alfalfa, planted clover, corn, oats, and assorted fruits and vegetables. The woodchuck is a member of the squirrel family but can be differentiated from the squirrel by its larger size. The large size of the woodchuck along with its surface lifestyle are factors that can be used to reduce any potential in confusing the woodchuck with the gopher, mole, or vole however these factors may fail to distinguish the woodchuck from the prairie dog.

An unchecked woodchuck population can cause a considerable amount of damage to crops for which it has an affinity, as they have been known to eat over a pound and a half of food per individual per day. This ability to consume a large amount of food in combination with the woodchucks' explosive population growth due to deforestation can lead to problems for the crop farmer and his equipment as well as the individual with a vegetable garden. In situations where there is potential for woodchuck crop damage, preventative measures must be taken.

The woodchuck is a daytime forager and is nearly never seen outside of its den after sundown. During the summer months the woodchuck will search for food in the morning and early evening hours and in the afternoon can most likely be observed sprawled out "sunning itself" in the midday sun.

The woodchuck, also know as the ground hog, hibernates, as many will well know due to the fame of a particular woodchuck named "Punxsutawney Phil" who is famous for predicting the beginning of spring.

The "Gopher" in the Caddyshack movies is not actually a gopher - it is a woodchuck.

Acknowledgment:


• Rene M. Bollengier. Jr., 1994. Woodchucks: Prevention and control of wildlife damage. Assistant Regional Director (retired). USDA-APHIS Animal Damage Control.
  
• University of Michigan Museum of Zoology - Animal Diversity Web
  

Recent Website updates/changes:

Woodchucks and Woodchuck Control - Part 5 of 9 - What Woodchucks Eat

This article may be viewed in its entirety on our website Vole control, Mole control, Gopher control: Crittergetteronline Home. Select your desired link from the "Critter Confused" navigation box on the left.

The woodchuck is a strict herbivore active in its foraging during the daylight hours. Its food sources include: vegetables, grasses and legumes. In early spring when green foliage is still scarce, the woodchuck will often eat bark, buds, and twigs. Later in the season, the woodchuck can be found standing on its hind legs to reach up and pull the top of a plant down to retrieve its tender foliage. When not foraging for food during the summer months, the woodchuck will often be found sunning and grooming itself.

Acknowledgment:


• Rene M. Bollengier. Jr., 1994. Woodchucks: Prevention and control of wildlife damage. Assistant Regional Director (retired). USDA-APHIS Animal Damage Control.
  
• University of Michigan Museum of Zoology - Animal Diversity Web
  

Recent Website updates/changes:

Woodchucks and Woodchuck Control - Part 4 of 9 - Where Woodchucks Live

This article may be viewed in its entirety on our website Vole control, Mole control, Gopher control: Crittergetteronline Home. Select your desired link from the "Critter Confused" navigation box on the left.

The woodchuck prefers to habituate pastures, loosely wooded fields, and areas of dense shrubs. Due to continuing deforestation, the woodchuck habitat is expanding and their numbers are ever on the rise. The woodchuck prefers easy to dig loam and sandy loam soil. Its burrow opening will typically be found on the edge of a pasture or field with an opening approximately 10 to 12 inches in diameter and a large mound of dirt nearby. The tunnels of the woodchuck can reach up to 45 feet in length and up to 5 feet in depth. Many often have a "drop hole" near the main burrow opening up to 2 vertical feet in depth that the woodchuck will use for quick escapes from the surface. Each woodchuck burrow characteristically has up to four well hidden auxiliary entrances without the presence of dirt mounds. When hibernating, the woodchuck's den will often be found under a stump, rocks, tree roots, or some other such protection.

Acknowledgment:


• Rene M. Bollengier. Jr., 1994. Woodchucks: Prevention and control of wildlife damage. Assistant Regional Director (retired). USDA-APHIS Animal Damage Control.
  
• University of Michigan Museum of Zoology - Animal Diversity Web
  

Recent Website updates/changes:

Woodchuck control, Mole control, Gopher control: CrittergetterOnline.Com at Link-Pimp - Our new Pest Control directory listing

Woodchuck control, Mole control, Gopher control: CrittergetterOnline.Com at Goongee.Com - Our new Home and Garden directory listing

Woodchuck control, Mole control, Gopher control: CrittergetterOnline.Com at GardenWeb.Com - Our new Repellent directory listing at one of the largest gardening directories on the net.