Since skunks - as well as raccoons, bats, groundhogs, foxes and coyotes - are rabies vector species, they should not be relocated like other wildlife. Get rid of food sources, such as garbage or bird feeders, and . Make sure that mother and young are able to remain together to prevent any of them from dying cruel deaths. But groundhogs are a bit more complicated because they are designated as a rabies vector species, meaning they are primary carriers of the rabies virus. Between March and August, raccoons, skunks, woodchucks and other animals may choose shelter in, around and under a home because they need a safe place to bear and rear their young. Groundhog took a bite of a tomato If you intend to live trap a groundhog Contact the Nuisance Wildlife Information Line at 1-877-463-6497 for more information. Relocate Groundhog to Bushy Area with Water Source Apart from relocating groundhog to park, you can also find other busy areas around where they animal will have a feel of wild. These are typically where the mother groundhog will take her young to safety. If there is a random hole along the edge of your storage shed, that is likely where the groundhog gets in and out. In most cases, nuisance wildlife need not be brought to wildlife rehabilitators. If you choose not to relocate the groundhog, they can either be released on-site where the animal was originally trapped or you may humanely kill it. The Game Commission recommends not relocating rabies vector species because of the increased possibility of spreading disease to a new area. Do you know how to release a trapped animal? If both suggestions were voted within, the suggestion with the most affirmative votes became law. The entrances are usually well-hidden and can be difficult to find. Contributions to the HSUS are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. These are only part of the many regulations within effect this year. (b) It shall be unlawful to set, use, or maintain a body gripping trap to take woodchucks which is set more than three feet from the hole, or structure the woodchuck is inhabiting. Most burrows are 25 to 30 feet long and from two to five feet deep, with . Do you know how frequently you must check a trap set to capture wildlife. For those who want to abolish the rule of Striped Skunk, doing so would certainly reduce public input.
They are territorial and feel incredibly vulnerable when their burrows are invaded. You are not allowed to set a trap within 5 feet of a muskrat house, a muskrat den, or a beaver house, and you are not allowed to set a trap within 5 feet of an active beaver dam. Although homeowners mean well, wild animals do not settle in quickly to new surroundings, no matter how inviting that habitat may seem to humans. You may be trying to access this site from a secured browser on the server. Despite this there might be no free Maryland animal services for wildlife within Maryland County. The Maryland General Assemblys Office of Legislative Audits operates a toll-free fraud hotline to receive allegations of fraud and/or abuse of State government resources. This stocky, medium-sized mammal is built for digging with short, strong legs and long . Please enable JavaScript in your browser. Then you can make repairs to prevent animals from moving in again. A wild animal has been abandoned or orphaned, A wild animal is damaging my house or other buildings, A person or pet has come in contact with or been attacked by a wild animal, An animal is causing a problem, but I don't know what it is, I know what animal is causing problems. I hope you understand my question. Frederick County Animal Removal Services: Frederick (21701, 20702, 21703, 21709), New Market (21774) , Mount Airy (21771), Urbana (21704), Ijamsville (21754), Walkersville (21793), Libertytown (21762), Damascus (20872), and more. Consider to be the most common way to kill a groundhog, lethal traps are positioned around and/or near entrances of the Boston groundhog's burrows - especially those that they use most often (high traffic areas). Much depends on the species involved, the time of year, the area into which relocation occurs and other factorstoo many to write a general prescription. In Ontario, it is illegal to trap and relocate animals from the site where they were captured according to the Ministry of Natural Resources' Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act. They can be destructive to your property, and they're a common animal in the United States. Is it legal to relocate raccoons in Michigan? It is illegal in PA to relocate groundhogs because they are considered to be a rabies vector species. It sounds like a good idea, but the sad truth is that live-trapping and relocation rarely ends well for wildlife, nor is it a permanent solution. Site Designed and Developed by: Fortification we fortify your home against further infestation, closing all entry points, and using durable materials that groundhogs cannot chew or burrow through. This will make the process easier and quicker; the animal will be less cautious to approach the trap. What to do with an animal that is behaving strangely or aggressively, Northeast Wildlife Damage Management Cooperative, Northeast Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, signing up for notification when your state is added. The entrance hole is made larger as the animal grows. Kevin and Mike were dedicated to resolving my problem. Unfortunately, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Wildlife and Heritage Service (WHS) does not have the staff or resources to respond to every injured or distressed wildlife report. Look for small holes in the ground that are about two inches wide. They can burrow under homes and gardens, causing significant damage. They breed in March and produce a single litter of two to six young. Groundhogs have rounded claws used for digging. Unbaited cage traps set near openings with boards or logs to guide the woodchuck are also effective. Groundhogs, also known as woodchucks, are excellent diggers, but it is this talent that makes them a serious nuisance for Maryland homeowners. Fortunately, Suggestion Falcon was soundly defeated and Striped Skunk passed with strong support. The State of Maryland pledges to provide constituents, businesses, customers, and stakeholders with friendly and courteous, timely and responsive, accurate and consistent, accessible and convenient, and truthful and transparent services. and then transport them down the road so they can live in someone else's backyard.. Is it bad to have a woodchuck in your yard? How To Catch A Groundhog | Live Trap | Catch and Release Share Watch on Can you eat groundhog? For the record, that would probably not include packing groundhog holes with explosives, a la Bill Murray in "Caddyshack. A box trap is good but stake it down well. This rifle is silent but deadly, with a 10-round magazine and incredible accuracy at 50 yards. Then if a neighbor complains, I know I'm covered. Though groundhogs dont typically attack people, groundhog-human interactions are common. Burrows and mounds can be hazardous to farm . How do you get rid of a groundhog in Maryland? Residents throughout Maryland might have groundhogs in their yard and never actually see the animals themselves. In fact, this is the only animal that does not require a permit for relocation. The first thing is the availability of food and water . Groundhogs in Michigan are found living under decks, in rock walls, and in hills. Below is the latest Maryland wildlife removal news from across the state:
Make no mistake, groundhogs have no place on your property cute as they may be. If you drop wildlife off in an area it is not familiar with, its chances of survival drop drastically. Heres what you need to know: You do not need a hunting license to kill a problem groundhog. If you find a groundhog on your property with babies, the best thing to do is wait until they're independent before trapping and relocating the mother. Groundhog Groundhogs or woodchucks ( Marmota monax) are a rodent that is in the same family as squirrels. Groundhogs are herbivors who only eat plants. They especially like fields used for agriculture. Again, Striped Skunk also gave exclusive authority of all wildlife trapping regulations back to the National Trap Coalition. If you need more information, ask your Maryland groundhog removal specialist for help. JavaScript is required to use content on this page. For squirrels, it is a death sentence, since they would no longer have access to their food cache on which they survive the winter. It is actually against the law to trap and relocate Rodentia. Groundhogs are vegetarians and eat plants, grass, flowers, and other vegetation. USDA Wildlife Services, Northern Wisconsin: 800-228-1368 (in-state) or 715-369-5221. Handling wildlife may also put you at risk for disease. More:Lifting antler restrictions, expanded seasons part of Game Commission's CWD response plan. Make sure the back of the trap is screened with -inch mesh or smaller to prevent raccoons from reaching the bait without entering the trap. If there is a temporary delay in releasing a trapped groundhog the trap should be moved to a shady area to provide relief from the ultraviolet sun rays that can be very harmful to a caged animal. When the only other option is killing, we sometimes agree that relocation, which gives the wild animal at least a chance, is acceptable. WHS also does not rehabilitate wildlife, but they do administerpermits for those interested in becoming licensed. Much depends on the species involved, the time of year, the area into which relocation occurs and other factorstoo many to write a general prescription. Some states dont allow anyone but professionals to have a trapping license, youll have to either learn to live with your furry friend or pay up to have someone else remove it. Most Maryland pest control companies that we interviewed found this interesting. For example, relocating an opossum, an animal that tends to wander all its life and often has no fixed home range (and carries their babies with them), could be seen as more acceptable than relocating a squirrel in mid-winter. Please note: Homeowners are strictly prohibited from trapping and shooting wildlife outside regulated seasons, unless the animal has been actively causing property damage or is an obvious threat to public health and safety. 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