Groundhogs are members of the squirrel family that inhabit the eastern and northeastern United States, as well as southern Canada, British Columbia and eastern and central Alaska. They average about 16 to 20 inches in length with a tail that is between 4 and 7 inches long.



Their eyes, ears, and nose are towards the top of the head, and their fur is brownish-gray in their chunky bodies. They also have chisel-shaped incisor teeth and commonly make their homes in areas with tree shrubs near fields and farms. Fences, stone walls, roadsides, foundations of buildings and tree bases are the common nesting areas for groundhogs. These animals feed on grasses, legumes, and vegetables, including clover, carrot leaves, soybeans, beans, and peas.

What are the signs of existence a Peoria groundhog under your shed or porch?
That brown furry animal making a meal from his orchard early in the morning or at night is very likely a groundhog, a species of a groundhog that can become a veritable plague for gardeners.

Following are some of the signs so you can judge the existence of an Illinois groundhog under you shed or porch:

Sounds:
Making whistling sound from its mouth is the distinctive part of the biology of the Peoria groundhog. When they see any danger around or they feel insecure, they inform about this situation to their other animals. They make a particular sound using its teeth.

Digging near your shed or porch:
Groundhogs usually dig up roots in early spring and they are generally digging in search of its food such as insects and grasses. It also does it to expand the size of its den. So, if you can find any such holes around your shed or porch, there must be any groundhogs within that area.

Trapping and Relocation:
Groundhogs are a huge nuisance and they must be away from your shed or porch. A final home remedy to rid the groundhogs of your life is trapping and relocating. It is advisable to call and report your state wildlife department. You can also take help from them for what traps are acceptable for Illinois groundhog removal in your state since some traps such as steel traps cannot be used in areas frequented by animals. Cage traps are another option and can be baited with slices of apple, lettuce, and carrots. Once it caught in the trap, call your state wildlife department about the relocation guidelines.

Visit our Peoria wildlife control home page to learn more about us.