Asking Woodchucks to Leave Your Yard

Late July or August is the perfect time to humanely relocate a woodchuck you don’t want in your yard. The Humane Society of the United States recommends that time because it gives the woodchuck’s young enough time to become independent. Don’t worry: Woodchuck offspring usually move far away from their birthplace by mid-summer.

John Griffin, director of Humane Wildlife Services, says that woodchucks aren’t dangerous animals, and they’re actually more at risk of being killed by pet dogs. He also notes that it would take a lot of woodchucks working over many years to create enough tunnel systems that may pose a risk to a structure.

However, if you want bar that woodchuck living under your deck or porch, HSUS recommends several ways to humanely accomplish the task. To learn more, read their page online about Solving Problems with Woodchucks. The resource will give you several options to try yourself before calling in a professional.

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