To capture a groundhog, set a 10×12×32-inch live trap on its path, bait with cantaloupe, and follow your state’s wildlife rules.
Groundhogs (woodchucks) raid beds, tunnel under sheds, and leave wide burrow mouths that can trip a mower tire. If you searched how to capture a groundhog, you’re in the right spot. This guide gives a clean plan that works in typical yards without drama: gear that fits, placement that lines up with daily patrols, bait that draws, and the legal checkpoints you need to pass.
Groundhog Capture Options And What To Expect
Live traps handle most yard setups, but results improve when the set matches how the animal travels. Start with the overview below, then use the step-by-step playbook that follows.
| Method | Where It Works | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Single-door live trap (10×12×32 in.) | Along a straight travel lane or at a den mouth | Easy to guide the animal through one opening; cover with burlap in hot sun. |
| Two-door live trap (about 9×9×32 in.) | Through-path sets where the animal crosses a fence line | Daylight at both ends lowers hesitation; helpful for wary adults. |
| Positive-set at burrow | Right on the entrance, door aligned with the hole | No bait needed; short fence “wings” funnel the animal into the cage. |
| One-way door + hardware-cloth skirt | Under sheds or decks during exclusion | Lets the animal leave but not re-enter; trench-bury a skirt to block digging. |
| Short seasonal fence (28–36 in.) | Protecting a kitchen bed during peak feeding | Bend a 90° apron outward at ground level to stop starts. |
| Hire a licensed wildlife pro | Large colonies, tight urban lots, or legal gray areas | Pros set multiple devices and handle permits and disposition. |
| Repellents (taste or odor) | Low-pressure sites | Mixed results; rain and lush plants dull the effect. |
How To Capture A Groundhog Step By Step
This playbook uses a box-style live trap and grocery-store bait. It fits most yards and keeps risk low for pets and non-targets. When you ask how to capture a groundhog without harm, this layout delivers.
Pick A Trap That Fits Groundhog Size
Choose a sturdy wire trap around 10×12×32 inches with a solid trip pan and strong door springs. Smaller squirrel units won’t handle the weight or power of a woodchuck. If you prefer a two-door design, match the length and keep bar spacing tight so paws can’t fish bait from outside.
Map Burrows, Trails, And Feeding Spots
Walk the yard in late afternoon. Look for fresh dirt fans at den mouths, clipped stems in the garden, droppings, and shaded lanes along fences. Groundhogs stick to routine runs. Place your trap so the opening greets the animal as it moves between cover and food. If the den sits under a deck, a positive set at the entry gives the highest odds.
Bait Smart And Keep It Fresh
Sweet produce draws the nose. Cantaloupe cubes, apple slices, or crisp greens work well. Rub a bit of melon on the trip pan for scent, then place bait at the back so the animal steps fully inside. Replace wilted bait daily. Skip pet food that might pull skunks or raccoons.
Blend The Trap Into The Route
Set the cage level and steady. Break up glare with light grass clippings or burlap. Add short fence wings or scrap boards on the sides so the path runs straight through the doorway. If the pan sits high, tuck a flat rock under the back to level the floor and improve foot placement.
Time The Set For Best Odds
Early morning and late afternoon bring the most movement, with a midday lull. Spring and fall bring faster catches because natural forage is thinner. In midsummer, patience and precise placement near the den help you win attention.
Check The Trap Often And Shade In Heat
Look at least twice a day. In warm weather, cover the cage with cardboard or a trap cover and move a captured animal into shade. Heat stress builds fast in direct sun.
Plan The Next Step Before You Set
Rules vary by state. Some allow on-site release after repairs; some require release on the same property; many ban off-site relocation. In Massachusetts, moving wildlife off your property is illegal, and the agency favors exclusion and repairs over transport (see state relocation rules). Read your state page before you set a device, and call a licensed operator if the text reads murky.
Legal Basics For Capturing A Groundhog
Laws cover device types, checking times, release options, and transport. Two pain points come up again and again: relocation and orphaning. Off-site release looks kind but fails often—new terrain, predators, and heat take a toll. Also, moving an adult in May–July can leave pups underground. If you see a short, stout animal with visible nipples, wait a week, then scan for small tracks before you proceed.
For trap sizes and set types that match this species, the species page in the ICWDM woodchuck guide lists common box-trap dimensions and timing tips that line up with field results. Use that along with your state page so your set and your next step stay inside the rules.
Capturing A Groundhog Safely: Placement, Bait, And Timing
These small tweaks lift catch rates when a wary adult keeps skirting the wire.
Use A Funnel
Wire a pair of 2–3-foot fence wings to the trap sides, forming a channel that blocks side steps. Pin the wings with landscape staples so the path flows into the door. At a den mouth, seat the trap so the frame hugs the hole rim.
Pre-bait When The Animal Ignores You
Leave the trap unset for a day with bait behind the pan. Wire the door open so the animal can feed and leave. Reset the next day. This breaks the fear of stepping on the metal pan.
Mind Scent And Cleanliness
Wash mud and old bait from the cage. Wear gloves when you handle the device, and keep the set area tidy. Food scraps bring skunks and opossums you don’t want to catch.
Handle A Capture Calmly
Lay a blanket over the cage to cut stress. Keep fingers clear; a cornered woodchuck bites hard. Move the cage gently, set it on level ground in shade, and complete whatever your local rules allow next.
Seasonal Timing And Behavior Notes
Groundhogs burn energy after hibernation and again before winter. Food is scarce in early spring and late fall, which makes bait stands out and travel more predictable. Midseason brings lush greens, so placement near the den or a tight fence funnel helps. Rain knocks scent down, so refresh bait after a storm. Wind shifts the sniff line, so set along a fence or hedge that channels air down a path.
Safety For People, Pets, And Non-Targets
Place sets where kids and pets can’t reach. Keep leashes short on trap days. If a neighbor keeps backyard chickens or ducks, swap sweet fruit for leafy bait to avoid drawing birds. If a skunk steps in, drape a towel over the cage and move slowly from the covered side; most hold spray when they can’t see a target. Wear gloves, and use a dolly for long moves so you don’t jolt the cage.
Second-Stage Fix: Keep Groundhogs Out After Removal
Once you finish the capture and any required release step, close the invitation. Patch gaps under sheds and decks with hardware cloth. Remove fallen fruit. Pick ripe produce in tight windows. Where you need steady protection, install a trench-buried skirt fence around a bed. A small gate makes daily work easy while the buried apron stops digging at the edge.
| Bait Or Draw | Best Use | Placement Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Cantaloupe cubes | General draw for adults | Smear juice on the pan; pile cubes at the back. |
| Apple slices | Cool days or spring | Mix with greens so scent carries but bait stays firm. |
| Fresh greens | High-heat months | Replace daily; keep crisp to beat garden competition. |
| Positive set (no bait) | Den mouth with an active dirt fan | Align the door with the hole and add short fence wings. |
| Funnel fence | Fence line patrols | Use 2–3-foot panels to steer straight into the door. |
| Shade cover | Sunny yards | Drape burlap or cardboard; leave vents for airflow. |
| Garden cleanup | After removal | Pick ripe produce; store feed; trim dense cover. |
Aftercare And Site Repair
Fill old burrow mouths with compacted soil and gravel, then water the patch so fines settle. Lay a short run of hardware cloth under deck steps or ramps where you saw traffic. If the den sat under a shed, trench-bury a skirt along that edge, then backfill and seed. Keep bird feeders off soil or switch to seed catchers that block spillage; loose seed builds a snack bar that brings repeat visits.
When To Call A Pro
Bring in a licensed wildlife operator if you see multiple burrows in a tight block, the set sits near a school or a kennel, or your state bars transport by homeowners. Pros place multiple devices fast, read den networks, and file any permits tied to your county. That route saves time when the site is complex or the clock is ticking on a building project.
Common Snags And Fast Fixes
The Trap Fires But Stays Empty
Raise the back of the device a half inch and shorten the pan travel with a zip tie or a pan-tension clip. Add side guides so the animal steps on the pan, not the frame.
I Caught A Skunk
Stay calm. Gently drape a towel over the cage and approach from the covered side. Move the cage slowly. Release at once if your rules require it.
I’m Worried About Pups
Late spring brings litters. If you catch an adult near a den in May, wait and watch for small tracks or squeaks before sealing anything. If you suspect pups, call a pro so the job closes cleanly.
Why This Works
This plan tracks how groundhogs move and feed: patrols between dense cover and a patch of fresh greens, with strong site loyalty. A box trap set on that run, scented with melon, and blended with short guides matches those habits without adding risk. The legal notes keep the end step clean so you don’t run into fines or poor survival after a well-meant drive across town.
Use this layout, and you can stop damage, meet your wildlife rules, and keep the yard steady for the long haul.