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milford, CT,

Today I found a groundhog in the patch. I also found the hole he uses to get in and out ...in the patch. My question is...What is the best bait to put in my trap to get him to go in. I tried flooding him out .....30 minutes of water and it still wasn't filling up. I live in a residential neighborhood so option # 3 (Shoot him) isn't feasible. So...I need to try to trap him. Any input on baits that have worked for people would be greatly appreciated. Thanks...Mark

8/15/2007 9:29:04 PM

Northern Cambria, Pa.

Nectarines work.

8/15/2007 9:39:37 PM

So. Maine

Pick up a pack of road flares at Wal Mart , light 1 or 2 of em & stick em in the hole than cover it when you know he's in there... make sure there is no exit hole before hand. Get it b-4 it gets your pumpkins.

8/15/2007 10:52:11 PM

Kalamazoo, MI ([email protected])

Using 22 CB's make less noise than breaking a stick but you have to be within 20 yards or they will just bounce off. Otherwise broccoli worked extremely well for me this season.

8/16/2007 8:34:07 AM

milford, CT,

Thanks guys...He does have an exit hole but I haven't found it yet. I'm goin to try to trap him today. I'll try your ideas for bait. Thanks Mark

8/16/2007 10:28:11 AM

Burt NY

they love apples

8/16/2007 11:35:18 AM

Somers, CT

Banannas

8/16/2007 11:45:05 AM

milford, CT,

He was in the yard most of the day. I tried apples this morning and he didn't go for it. This afternoon I put carrots and green beans in the trap. Keep the ideas coming ....I have to get rid of this problem before he decides he likes pumpkins! Mark

8/16/2007 3:35:28 PM

Somers, CT

Some of the growers use the 22 long lead plugs. They work the best. Neighbors may not like it seeing it is Connecticut so stay low if you try it.

8/16/2007 4:18:54 PM

Georgia

Id shoot em but thats not and option for ya seeing that your neighbors are close by. But when I trap them I like Scweigert said have good luck with apples.

8/16/2007 4:51:27 PM

Fairport,NY

broccoli works best!!!

8/16/2007 4:57:20 PM

Ray, North Dakota

A high powered .177 pellet gun would poke a hole in him.

8/16/2007 5:51:49 PM

Topsfield, Ma.

My best success was with fresh tertiary vine growth, or secondaries if you've got any at this time! Good luck!

8/16/2007 8:34:19 PM

milford, CT,

I called a farmer friend of mine and he said I need to have some patience. Woodchucks are weary of the trap and he said it may take a few days before he gets up the nerve to go in.
I don't know about you guys but patience is not something I have at this moment. Anybody hear that Moth Balls keep them away from the fruit? Mark

8/16/2007 8:41:29 PM

Minnesota

clang pots and pans together and chase him.

8/16/2007 9:51:56 PM

[email protected]

Clover!

8/16/2007 10:26:52 PM

Massachusettts

Did the groundhog morph into a woodchuck or is the woodchuck a separate problem?

8/16/2007 10:37:04 PM

milford, CT,

Not a seperate problem...It's either a woodchuck or a ground hog. Is there any difference?

8/17/2007 7:18:14 AM

New Castle, Pa.

I have caught several ground hogs without any bait and none using bait. They always run the same trail back to their hole. The weeds are beat down where this path is. I place the trap in front of this path. When the ground hog gets spooked he runs in the trap on his way to the path. I caught seven this way this year.

8/17/2007 8:16:51 AM

Belmont, NH

To increase your odds of catching him, cover the trap with a tarp or something dark and place near his trail to the pumpkin patch. Broccoli works pretty well.

Bruce

8/17/2007 8:24:29 AM

West By God Virginia

I've caught 3 in a trap and they are not smart! Use apple as bait put half an apple back behind the trigger and a quarter of the apple at the opening of the trap. He/she will eat the quarter and go in for the half and get caught. It has worked every time I've noticed they are around. Put the trap right near any damage it's done or the hole.

8/17/2007 10:53:28 AM

milford, CT,

Caught one of them this afternoon...but my son said there was a second one in the hole. Sliced peach from my peach tree did the trick. I put out a peach and apple and some green beans this morning to see what he liked. At 11:00 the peach was gone. I rebaited the trap with a sliced peach...2 hours later we had a woodchuck in the trap. Thanks everyone for your help. Mark

8/17/2007 2:51:07 PM

[email protected]

So this means we have a new woodchuck living in Straford eh Mark? I hope he's a good swimmer! LOL Better watch the Moses Wheeler bridge. That last hole was bigger than a woodchuck!

8/18/2007 12:49:16 AM

milford, CT,

Steve, No you don't have one new woodchuck in Stratford.....you have two! I got another one this morning...much larger than the first. I think the den is empty now but I'll keep baiting for a few more days. Steve thanks for the helpful advice the other night.....Mark

8/18/2007 5:21:21 PM