By the time you read this, Phil will have made his prediction. For all our sake, we hope it is for an early spring. In the midst of winter, Groundhog’s day is a fun diversion and reminds us spring is on the way sooner or later. Some 40,000 make the trek to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania to witness this yearly event dating back to the 1800’s. Punxsutawney Phil has met Oprah Winfrey, President Reagan, Governors Thornburg and Rendell, and in 2001, his prediction was broadcast live to New York City’s Times Square. Fun as Phil is, groundhog’s day is folklore.
Here are some facts about the groundhog, and how to manage the furry creature once he makes an appearance in your yard.
Marmota monax, the groundhog, also known as the woodchuck, is a chunky creature weighing up to 10 lbs. Its length ranges sixteen to twenty inches plus the tail, four to seven inches. While open farm land is their first choice, the groundhog has made a comfortable home in the suburban landscape where plenty of food and shelter make life easy for them. Often a groundhog will construct its burrow along stone walls, at the base of trees, and even along a foundation.
Groundhog burrows can be identified by the large mound of excavated earth at the main entrance. On this mound, which is constantly renewed by debris from within, the groundhog frequently sits to look for danger. The entranceway is 10 to 12 inches in diameter, and they also have secondary entrances. These tend to be hidden and dug from below so mounds are not seen.
The groundhog can be the bane of most homeowners. The animal’s feeding and burrowing habits conflict with human interests. Damage often occurs on farms, in home gardens, orchards, nurseries, and around buildings. Damage to crops such as alfalfa, soybeans, beans, squash, tomatoes, and peas can be costly and extensive. A homeowner may lose his or her entire tomato patch. Fruit trees and ornamental shrubs may be damaged by a groundhog as they gnaw on woody vegetation. Mounds of earth from the excavated burrow systems and holes formed at burrow entrances present a hazard to farm equipment, animals, and humans. On occasion, burrowing can weaken building foundations.
In Pennsylvania, groundhogs are classified as game animals. Game protection is removed when they damage personal property. In that case, groundhogs can be controlled by the property owner using the lawful means. If a homeowner does not feel comfortable with any means of control, there are many wildlife pest control companies who can do this for you.
If the area is small, poultry wire or two inch woven mesh fencing can be installed. With three foot minimum above ground, the fence should have twelve inches buried in the ground, with six inches bent in an L shape pointing away.
Scarecrows can provide temporary relief from groundhog damage. Move them regularly and incorporate a high level of human activity in the susceptible area.
There are no repellents or toxicants that are for use on groundhogs. There are other products such as fumigants and gas cartridges available at home and garden centers which are labeled for use on groundhogs. Please carefully follow the directions as these are dangerous products.
There are live traps the homeowners can use as well. Place the trap near fresh damage or at the main entrance of the burrow. Use fresh bait such as apple slices, carrots, and lettuce. Be careful once the animal is trapped. Give some thought to a relocation area at least ten miles away and where the groundhog will not be the pest he was to you.
The Penn State Master Gardeners in Lackawanna County have a free publication on groundhogs, contact us at (570) 963-6842 or email: LackawannaMG@psu.edu for a copy.
Steve Ward
Master Gardener Coordinator
Penn State Extension Lackawanna County
Showing posts with label fence. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fence. Show all posts
Monday, February 4, 2013
Friday, October 1, 2010
Protecting your Landscape from Deer
Now is a good time to protect your garden labors from deer. Here are some tips from Penn State horticulture professor Jim Sellmer.
Unless you have to protect large areas of new growth an economical approach to deer-proofing both new and mature trees and shrubs is individual fencing. A deer can reach over fencing, so make sure it is high enough; several feet higher that any tree or shrub that is less than 3 feet tall. Place fence posts about 4 feet from the tree or shrub to prevent deer from leaning over the fence. Attach plastic or woven wire mesh to the stakes. Inspect your fence at least once per week, especially after a heavy snowfall. Once the snow hardens, you may need to make your fences taller.
An alternative to fencing is the use of chemical deer repellents. Be aware that most repellents wash off from rain or snow and extremely hungry deer won’t be deterred. Repellents will need to be applied routinely but can be made from household items, such as a mixture of spoiled eggs and water, or purchased from garden centers. Deer become tolerant to the taste and smell of repellents, so switching the repellent type is important during the season.
An easier approach to fighting deer is to plant trees and shrubs that deer don’t find delicious, but please remember that no plant can be entirely deer-proof. For a comprehensive list of deer resistant plants compiled by Penn State extension educator Linda Wiles go to: http://monroe.extension.psu.edu/Horticulture/deer/index.html.
For the complete article by Sellmer visit the web at http://live.psu.edu/story/35640
If you have any gardening questions please call your county extension office. In Lackawanna County call our garden help line at 963-6842 ext. 1377 or email LackawannaMG@psu.edu
Terry Schettini, Extension Educator
Penn State Cooperative Extension in Lackawanna County
Unless you have to protect large areas of new growth an economical approach to deer-proofing both new and mature trees and shrubs is individual fencing. A deer can reach over fencing, so make sure it is high enough; several feet higher that any tree or shrub that is less than 3 feet tall. Place fence posts about 4 feet from the tree or shrub to prevent deer from leaning over the fence. Attach plastic or woven wire mesh to the stakes. Inspect your fence at least once per week, especially after a heavy snowfall. Once the snow hardens, you may need to make your fences taller.
An alternative to fencing is the use of chemical deer repellents. Be aware that most repellents wash off from rain or snow and extremely hungry deer won’t be deterred. Repellents will need to be applied routinely but can be made from household items, such as a mixture of spoiled eggs and water, or purchased from garden centers. Deer become tolerant to the taste and smell of repellents, so switching the repellent type is important during the season.
An easier approach to fighting deer is to plant trees and shrubs that deer don’t find delicious, but please remember that no plant can be entirely deer-proof. For a comprehensive list of deer resistant plants compiled by Penn State extension educator Linda Wiles go to: http://monroe.extension.psu.edu/Horticulture/deer/index.html.
For the complete article by Sellmer visit the web at http://live.psu.edu/story/35640
If you have any gardening questions please call your county extension office. In Lackawanna County call our garden help line at 963-6842 ext. 1377 or email LackawannaMG@psu.edu
Terry Schettini, Extension Educator
Penn State Cooperative Extension in Lackawanna County
Monday, August 23, 2010
Keep Your Woodland Trash-free
While you are working hard to keep your garden and home landscape clean and free of debris you may find that illegal dumping has become a problem on your woodlot. Unfortunately, due to economic times, this problem may be increasing. Cleaning up an illegal dump site can be dangerous and very expensive for the landowner.
George Hurd, Franklin County Extension Educator, gives some tips in the Summer issue of Penn State’s Forest Leaves for helping you keep your woodlot debris free.
Your property boundary is your primary line of defense. The stronger and more noticeable it is, the greater the probability that the illegal dumper will go elsewhere. You just have made it too hard to do!
- Secure locks and gates. Gates should be as strong as possible, mounted securely and locked with heavy duty chain and padlocks.
- Keep your fences and gates in good repair.
- Ditch or block access points, lanes, and road access you no longer use. Ditches form natural barriers.
- Use posts or large rocks to block access to large openings into your property.
Cut back vegetation from areas where the dumper could remain unseen while dumping. Most illegal dumpers will drop materials close to the public road. - Post “No Trespassing” signs at regular intervals. Do call police and report trespassers.
If you have trash to be hauled away, be careful who you hire. If it is dumped illegally, you may be liable for cleanup costs and disposal costs.
If you witness someone littering or dumping, get details and descriptions, and report them to an enforcement agency as soon as possible. When contacting an enforcement agency, always start local: local police, a municipal or county code enforcement office, a solid waste authority office, or a county health department. Additional information on Pennsylvania laws on illegal dumping and enforcement agencies is available at: ftp://ftp.dot.state.pa.us/public/Bureaus/hwybeaut/PALAWSAGAINSTLITTERINGILLEGALDUMPING.Pdf
Another source of information about preventing illegal dumping is PA CleanWays. For more information about their programs or to find a chapter in your area, visit their website at: http://www.pacleanways.org/
For more good tips see the full article at http://rnrext.cas.psu.edu/PDFs/FLSummer2010.pdf or contact your local cooperative extension office. In Lackawanna County ask for the Garden Help line at 570-963-6842 or email LackawannaMG@psu.edu.
Terry Schettini, Extension Educator
Penn State Cooperative Extension in Lackawanna County
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