Groundhog Removal That Protects the Structure
Groundhogs are powerful diggers. Our service focuses on locating active burrows, resolving the animal problem and installing underground fencing to help stop groundhogs from digging back beneath decks, sheds, porches and other vulnerable structures.
Removal solves today’s problem. Underground fencing helps prevent the next one.
Groundhogs often choose the protected space beneath a structure because it provides cover and stable soil for a burrow system. Simply removing an animal may leave that attractive access point open for another groundhog.
That is why underground fencing is the main prevention method we recommend. We install a buried barrier around the vulnerable edge of the structure, creating a durable obstruction where groundhogs are most likely to dig.
- Decks and raised porches
- Sheds and detached structures
- Patios, additions and slab edges
- Retaining walls and other sheltered voids
Inspect, remove, exclude and verify
Inspect the property
We identify active burrow entrances, travel paths, feeding damage and the structures that need protection.
Resolve active groundhogs
We select an appropriate removal strategy based on the site, current activity and the time of year.
Install underground fencing
A buried exclusion barrier is fitted to the vulnerable perimeter to resist future digging and re-entry.
Groundhog burrows can extend well beyond the visible entrance
A single opening may lead to a larger tunnel system beneath the yard or structure. Filling an entrance without addressing the animal and the access point can lead to repeated excavation nearby.
Our approach treats the burrow location as a structural exclusion issue—not just a trapping issue. The goal is to protect the area the groundhog selected so the same problem is less likely to return.
Common warning signs
- Large holes beside a deck, shed or porch
- Fresh soil piled near an entrance
- Chewed garden plants and landscaping
- Paths through grass or along fence lines
- Repeated digging after a hole is filled
Built around the places groundhogs actually target
Every property is different, so the underground barrier is planned around the structure, grade, soil conditions and active burrow areas. We pay particular attention to corners, transitions and other points where an animal may test the perimeter.
Questions homeowners commonly ask
Why not just fill the burrow?
If the groundhog is still active—or if the access remains attractive—it may reopen the hole or excavate a new entrance nearby. Removal and exclusion should be planned together.
Is underground fencing always necessary?
It is our primary long-term recommendation when groundhogs are living beneath a structure. The inspection determines where fencing will provide the most useful protection.
Do groundhogs cause structural damage?
Burrowing can move soil, create voids and undermine landscaping or areas around smaller structures. The risk depends on burrow placement and site conditions.
Will another groundhog move in later?
An accessible sheltered area can attract new wildlife. Protecting it with underground fencing helps reduce that opportunity.
Protect the structure—not just the opening
Schedule a groundhog inspection and get a practical plan for removal, underground fencing and long-term prevention.