Humane wildlife & rodent removal · Massachusetts North Shore · Mon–Fri 8–6978-872-6633
Free EstimateCall Now
CallText Us
Groundhog removal & exclusion

Groundhog under the deck? We'll stop the digging.

Groundhogs can tunnel under decks, sheds and porches and do real damage. North Shore Wildlife removes them humanely and installs ground exclusion so they can't come back. No poison, ever.

Call 978-872-6633Text UsFree Estimate
  • Humane removal
  • Ground exclusion
  • One-way doors
  • No poison
Groundhog under a deck - North Shore Wildlife groundhog removal

Groundhogs dig deep

Groundhogs can burrow 2 to 4 feet underground, and their tunnels can run 15 to 25 feet sideways. That digging can undermine decks, sheds, porches and even foundations.

They hibernate from about the middle of October and usually come back out in February, so spring is when most homeowners notice the damage.

Large burrow holesOpen holes along a deck, shed or foundation.
Dirt moundsPiles of fresh soil near the burrow entrance.
Garden damagePlants and vegetables chewed down overnight.
Daytime sightingsGroundhogs are active during the day, often near their burrow.

How we solve it for good

Removal plus exclusion, so the burrow stays empty.

Inspect

We find the burrow entrances and how far the tunnels run.

Remove

Humane trapping, or a one-way door so it leaves on its own.

Exclude

Steel mesh ground exclusion around the deck, shed or porch.

Protect

A finished barrier that keeps the next groundhog out.

Ground exclusion: the long-term fix

When an animal makes your deck, shed or porch its home, trapping alone won't stop the next one. Our technicians dig a trench around the perimeter, attach a durable steel mesh barrier to the bottom of the structure, run the mesh down into the ground and fill the trench back in.

If an animal is still living underneath, we install a one-way door so it can leave safely but can't get back in.

TrenchDug along the full perimeter of the structure.
Steel meshAttached to the structure and buried in the ground.
One-way doorLets any animal underneath leave, but not return.
BackfillTrench filled back in for a clean, finished look.

Groundhog removal FAQ

Questions North Shore homeowners ask us.

When are groundhogs active?

They hibernate from about mid-October to February. Spring and summer are when they're most active and do the most digging.

How do you keep groundhogs from coming back?

Ground exclusion. We bury a steel mesh barrier around the structure so they can't dig back under it.

What if a groundhog is still under there?

We install a one-way door during the exclusion so it can leave but can't get back in.

Do you use poison?

No. We never use poison for anything.

Groundhog removal across the North Shore

Serving Essex County, from the New Hampshire line to Saugus. Call or text and talk to a real person.

Call 978-872-6633Text Us