Groundhog under your deck or shed: what to do right now
A groundhog, also called a woodchuck, digging under a deck or shed is not dangerous to you, but its burrow can damage the structure over time. The most important rule is not to block the hole while animals may be inside.
Do this now
- 1Keep pets away from the burrow and on a leash in the yard.
- 2Find the main hole and any second exit nearby. Burrows often have more than one.
- 3Remove fallen fruit, garden scraps and other food near the deck or shed.
- 4Loosely stuff the hole with newspaper and check the next day to see if it was pushed out.
- 5Look for sagging boards, cracks or settling in nearby steps, patios or slabs.
Don't
- Don't block or fill a burrow while a groundhog or young may be inside.
- Don't corner or try to catch a groundhog. They will bite if trapped.
- Don't use poison, gas or smoke in the burrow.
- Don't trap and move it without checking Michigan DNR rules first.
Get help immediately if
- Someone was bitten or scratched: wash with soap and water and call a doctor and your local health department.
- Your pet fought with a groundhog: call your veterinarian the same day.
- A deck, porch or step is sagging or shifting: keep people off it until it is checked.
Why groundhog burrows are a problem
Groundhogs dig large burrows with long tunnels and several openings. Under a deck, shed, porch, patio or concrete slab, that digging can remove soil from under footings and supports. Over time, steps can sag and slabs can crack or settle. They also eat garden plants and can chew on wood.
Groundhogs are active during the day, mostly in the morning and late afternoon. They hibernate through the Michigan winter and become active again in early spring. Young are born in spring, so a groundhog under the deck in April or May may be a mother with a litter. Sealing the burrow then would trap them.
How pros get groundhogs out
The standard approach is exclusion. A pro confirms the burrow is active, installs a one-way door on the main entrance so the groundhog can leave but not return, and then fills the burrow. An L-shaped wire mesh barrier buried around the deck or shed keeps it from digging back under. Learn more on our wildlife control page.
Michigan wildlife rules vary by species, licensed nuisance wildlife control operators work under Michigan DNR rules, and relocating trapped animals is restricted. Check with the DNR before trapping or moving a groundhog yourself. If the burrow has undermined a structure, a contractor may need to look at the footings after the animal is gone.
What it costs
$250 to $650removal and exclusion
Price depends on the size of the deck or shed, how much buried barrier is needed, and whether young are present. After-hours or same-day visits often cost more. These are typical ranges, not quotes.
Typical ranges, not quotes. More on wildlife and the Michigan cost guide.
Common questions
Will a groundhog leave on its own?
Sometimes, but groundhogs often reuse a good burrow for years, and other animals may move into an empty one. Exclusion followed by a buried barrier is the reliable fix.
When is the best time to remove a groundhog?
Late summer and fall, after the young have left the burrow and before hibernation, is often easiest. In spring, a pro will check for young first so no animals are trapped inside.
How much does groundhog removal cost in Michigan?
Most homeowners pay about $250 to $650 for removal and exclusion, depending on the size of the area to protect. See our pest control cost guide for more on pricing.
Other emergencies
- Raccoon in the house
- Noises in the attic or walls
- Bat in the house
- Squirrel in the attic
- Mouse or rat in the living area
- Bird in the house or a vent
- Animal in the chimney
- Animal in the garage or basement
- Skunk under the deck
- Opossum in the garage or basement
- Snake in the house
- Wasp nest near the door
- Bees swarming or in a wall
- Dead animal smell