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Corbin, KY

Be on the lookout! They can ruin a pumpkin plant very quickly. Lost the growing tips on two plants in just a few hours. Death is comming! Lucklly still have a seconday for a backup main.

5/31/2011 2:28:53 PM

Pinetops,n.c.

sorry to hear that tim, maybe you can still have good luck with a secondary.need to get paul up there to thin them groundhogs out, lol.

5/31/2011 4:25:19 PM

Somerset,Ky

Tim I have a couple back ups if you need them

5/31/2011 7:23:52 PM

Bristol R.I. USA

I have ecpirience with these things. Get your silt fence anf mound dirt over it. Mix in some critter ridder over the perimeyer of the patch, get coyote or dog urine and have some small bottles or soaked rags amd tie them to areas around the patch. Set up have a hart traps all over the area forward of the patch. Also cut laundry baskets over the main and growing tips of each vine. I had some issues with a big critter problem and by doing those things they didnt dare come around my patch again. Good luck.

5/31/2011 9:52:11 PM

Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

They can ruin more than just the vine. Carlson and Petersen lost a winning 1370+ pumpkin in 2009 when one ate a hole through the fruit a couple weeks before weighoff. Fox or coyote urine works. Electric fence helps keep them out of the patch, along with the deer and other critters. .22 magnum is permanent solution. Poison smoke bombs will kill and bury them all at once if you catch them in the den. I have heard that conibears are a quick kill too.

6/1/2011 8:43:34 AM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

Live trap with Romaine Lettuce and teach them how to swim in the cage, or lead poison them.

6/1/2011 1:48:27 PM

Bristol R.I. USA

I have found that once they get discouraged they seem to leave the area.

6/1/2011 5:44:52 PM

Webster, NY

I had problems with they for years. Caught them in the trap with apple slices for bait but never really got rid of them. Then we got a dog and I haven't seen one the last 3 years.

6/4/2011 2:25:43 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Linus, I am thinkin after seein Tim's new diary postings that he used option #2!!! Peace, Wayne

6/5/2011 2:44:07 AM

Muddy Waters

I dont find that to be true Kenny!Ive burned & destroyed all
habitat around there dens filled dens with rocks,smoked holes,poured bleach in holes(dens)they didnt leave till they met my buddys 22,shot 11, 1 year,thought I was Daniel Boone.Popped them in the back of the head from basement window at 150 feet.last year live trapped 13,afraid of conniebears traps,My wife & kids would shoot me, if i foot trapped the cat!!I keep 2 live traps baited throughout season along edge of garden,I seem to catch them before they catch me !they like toms& cantalope!!

6/5/2011 6:55:25 AM

sevierville, Tn

the dogs got mine 13 years ago, they never came back !

6/6/2011 2:55:43 PM

East Jordan, MI

I agree my dog keeps away all of the varmits away from my patch.

6/6/2011 9:03:41 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Chris, don't tell me yer trainin yer new pup (Beagle,? isn't it? ie...rabbit dog) to chase groundhogs? LOL Peace, Wayne

6/7/2011 2:05:02 AM

sevierville, Tn

Wayne, he will chase anything that moves! All mine do. They don't have to catch them, just chase ! LOL My ole hound dog (Plott) loves to catch & eat frogs !

6/7/2011 2:53:12 PM

Upa Creek, Mo

But you want to keep the frogs and toads Smoky. At least I do, they eat insects.

6/7/2011 3:05:54 PM

Ohio

kill em with fumes, plug all escape route holes and run a hose from the exhaust pipe to the main hole...nightie nite ground hog.

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=85512

That pic there is the worst destruction I have ever seen a ground hog do, but the champ still comes back and grows one dayum near 1000 lbs, you talk about not giving up, this is a great example of what a ground hog will do and one of the best comes backs I have ever seen!

(ground hogs was dead a few days later after that pic was taken,,lol)

6/11/2011 5:28:58 AM

Www.extremepumpkinstore.com

Brooks, that pic still makes my stomach turn when I see it...lol
Get yourself a conibear 220 trap, if you can see the hole you can kill it.
These are nasty pests, and if they are left alone, they will start to breed fast, a hungry mother will consume a plant in little time.

6/11/2011 11:00:45 AM