The Nature of Things

Woodchuck-haters club

April

My bias against woodchucks is well-known, at least among family and friends. There’s nothing I would like to see more than the 2 (at least) that live on my property to disappear.

I’ve battled them for several years now as they or their ancestors personally helped themselves to the beans, lettuce, zucchini and, I swear, even cilantro in my garden. The war waged until last year, when I strengthened the garden’s defenses. In addition to the four-foot-tall fence, I added a foot-high barrier and an electric fence.

So from outside to inside, the garden’s perimeter goes like this: electric fence, foot-tall fence, four-foot fence. Each layer is separated from the next layer by about six inches or so. In addition, between the four-foot-tall fence and the one-foot-tall fence is a six-inch-wide strip of chicken wire that runs along the ground to prevent any burrowing.

The photograph shows the system. The green poles hold the electric fence. It’s really just two wires that run around the outside of the garden, about a foot or so off the ground, powered by two D batteries. (Yes, I’ve touched it. Mostly just a tingle. Unless you have no shoes on and the lawn is wet.)

All of that equaled no woodchuck issues last year. The critters are still living on my property. We see them a few times a week, chewing here or there. My 6-year-old daughter will sometimes go running out the door to chase one if she spots it from a window.

Here’s a handy guide for dealing with the freakin’ things.

This entry was posted on Thursday, April 24th, 2008 at 11:47 am by Mike Risinit.
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2 Responses to “Woodchuck-haters club”

Steve C. April 27th, 2008 at 7:16 am
i usually get feces and moth balls and foul the hole. that usually moves them away. between my neighbor and I , we must have a huge enclave under the property
Steve C. April 27th, 2008 at 7:20 am
oh tell us how to sign up to the haters club.

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