How to trap a woodchuck

A lot of people get upset about the damage that woodchucks cause in their homes, yards, and gardens and want to get rid of them immediately. In most cases, the only solution to permanently getting rid of woodchucks is for you to trap them and relocate them to locations where they will not cause any trouble and then take measures to exclude them from your yard.

In trapping woodchucks, you will need the right equipment, setup of the traps, and the right bait to be successful. The following guidelines will help you to achieve your dream of having a home that is free of woodchucks. 

Step 1: Get The Right Equipment

It would be best if you worked with a trap that is not lethal and does not cause any harm, injury, or pain to the woodchuck. Although there are deadly and snaps traps that trap and kill the woodchucks, you should use live traps that will catch and trap the woodchuck in a cage. The type that most people use is a trap that has a door, which the woodchuck triggers when it enters into the cage. It is the cleanest and easiest trap that you can use for trapping.
The traps come in different sizes, and if your trap is about a foot to two and a half feet, then you are good to go. 

There are many available traps on the market, but the best to use is a trap cage because it is easy to handle, and it is the most common of the traps. You should not use a lethal or snap trap because most states prohibit the killing of woodchucks, and you will have to deal with the carcass after the trapping.

Step 2: Trap Placement

It would help if you chose a position in your yard or garden that will not alert the woodchuck or make it nervous because woodchucks are naturally suspicious animals, and once they notice the trap cage, they will avoid it like the plague. In placing your trap, you should ensure that it blends with the yard or garden, and it is near the entrance of the woodchuck’s burrow. 

You will recognize the entrance easily because of the mound of sand and debris of dead insects the woodchuck leaves there. It would be best if you also used the right bait. If not, you will end up trapping a different animal.  To do this, you have to know that woodchucks are forage feeders and they will be suspicious of any fruit or food lying directly at the entrance of their living space and so your bait should not be in the trap but should instead be made into a scattered trail towards the trap in such a manner that looks natural. Woodchucks are not picky eaters so you can use any fresh, ripe fruit or vegetable as bait. There are also commercially available woodchuck baits, but you can use the foods already available to you.

Step 3: Trapping Rules

To successfully trap woodchucks, you should stick to the following rules:

  • Try not to leave your scent: Woodchucks are very sensitive animals, and your scent on the trap will alert them that something is wrong and so use rubber gloves when you are handling the trap to avoid leaving your scent behind.
  • Make the trap invisible: You should camouflage the trap with leaves and grasses to make it blend into your yard or garden and make it less visible to the woodchucks. 
  • Use baits before trapping: You can begin making trails of food or fruits before trapping the woodchuck, this will help you trap it easily because once it gets used to the trails, they seem normal and less threatening and so your trap will catch it unaware.
  • Make your trap firm and steady: Let your trap be firm enough to withstand the struggles of the woodchuck when you finally trap it. It would help if you placed the trap on a relatively flat surface.

Step 4: Removal And Relocation

For this step, your best bet is to let a professional handle the woodchuck. They have the right equipment and knowledge to remove the woodchuck and relocate it to a new area where it will have sufficient food and water to survive. They can also advise you on ways to prevent a woodchuck infestation in the future.

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