Is the marmot damaging your garden? Marmots love to eat vegetables and legumes, and many gardeners and farmers find it necessary to capture them. To catch a marmot, you must know the habits of the animal and be able to lure it out of its burrow so that it will fall for the bait. This is not an easy task, but as a result, your garden will live in peace. Go to step 1 to learn how to catch and release these animals.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Planning the catch
Step 1. Decide which trap you will use
There are two types of marmot traps: traps that kill marmots immediately and traps that keep them alive so you can release them somewhere else. Since traps of the first type are dangerous - their use often ends with the death of pets and other animals, they are not allowed in many places. The second type of trap is safer and more humane. It uses bait to lure a marmot into a cage with a door that slams shut when the marmot enters the cage. These traps can be purchased at garden supply stores and used as needed.
- If you prefer to use a trap that kills a marmot and is legal in your area, call a professional marmot killing service to set the trap and finish the job after the marmot is caught. It is not advisable to set a trap if you have pets that may come close to the trap.
- In some regions there is a ban on the movement of marmots. If there is such a ban in your area, you will need to call the animal control service in order to get rid of marmots in your homestead.
Step 2. Set the trap in early spring
In the spring, marmots are active, but they have not yet had cubs. Catching them before the cubs are born will prevent 4 more marmots from appearing on your site, which will also need to be caught. Another advantage of spring trapping is that it is easier to locate burrow entrances as they are not obscured by foliage. Finally, at this time of year, marmots are especially hungry, as their favorite food has not yet grown. This means they can be easily trapped.
- Plan to catch marmots in early spring, before the leaves are fully open and flowers appear.
- You can catch marmots in the fall.
Step 3. Find the groundhog burrow
It is best to set the trap close to the entrance to the groundhog burrow. To find a hole, look for a spot where the surface layer of the earth is broken, followed by a small hole or cavity. Place the trap 5 to 10 feet from the burrow entrance.
Determine the places most visited by marmots - by the marks left or the damage done to your crop. Set traps in these areas
Part 2 of 3: Catching a Groundhog
Step 1. Clean up the trap
Wash it well with unflavored or mildly flavored dishwashing detergent to eliminate human odor. A marmot is more likely to approach a trap if it doesn't smell like human. From now on, only use rubber gloves to touch the trap so that your scent does not remain on it.
Step 2. Secure the trap
Weight the trap so that it does not vibrate when the animal enters. The hesitation can scare the groundhog, and it will not go far enough for the trap to slam shut. You can make the trap heavier by placing a heavy stone at the back or on top of the trap.
Step 3. Disguise the trap
If the metal trap is shiny, marmots most likely will not go into it. The chances of catching a marmot are increased if you mask it with branches and leaves. You can cover the metal trap with burlap or pieces of wood to make it look less like a trap.
Step 4. Put bait in the trap
Scatter vegetables such as lettuce, carrots, and celery. Choose what grows on your site, or what you know the groundhog likes. You can also buy ready-made "North American woodhog bait", it is very good at luring marmots.
Step 5. First, set the trap so that it won't slam
Keep it open for the first few days so that the marmot will get used to it and feel safe while eating the bait. After about 3 days, change the settings so that the door slams after the groundhog is inside.
Step 6. Check the trap regularly
If you use a trap that does not kill marmots, it will be inhumane to leave the trapped animal without water and under prolonged exposure to environmental factors. You must remove the animal from your home shortly after capture.
Part 3 of 3: Freeing the Groundhog
Step 1. After the groundhog is trapped, cover it with a piece of cloth
This will calm the animal and you can move it.
Step 2. Take the animal to a new location
Choose a wooded area far enough from your home, at least 10 miles (16 km), so that the animal cannot return. The area where you release the marmot should be shady enough and have an easily accessible source of water. Check with your local law enforcement or conservation area department to find out where to release your marmot. There may be laws governing where groundhog is released.
Step 3. Release the groundhog
Once you find a suitable place, set up a trap, remove the cloth from it and open the door. You must give the groundhog time to get out of the trap yourself.
Don't get too close to the groundhog. The teeth of the marmots are quite sharp, and it can bite quite hard
Advice
- Wash the trap between settings, as animals in the cage may urinate in the trap, leaving their odor behind.
- Protect your garden area and place a fine wire mesh or netting around it to keep marmots away from your plants. Proper lawn maintenance will help eliminate potential marmot hiding spots, and a fence will keep your plants safe from animals.