Once they start undermining major structures (like our horse barn & shop) & tearing up the garden, climbing into the fig bush & depriving us of fruit, etc., they aren’t so ‘cute’ any more. Around here, it’s “war”!
It’s humbling to realize you’re matching wits with a rodent!
We only had two this year. Thankfully. I kept trying with the .22 but they were always looking up towards the house and they run and are fast. Asked a friend whose son is a farmer. Groundhogs can cost him 20K a year in lost soybeans. He sets 5 traps a day each right inside the hole entrance. When the varmint comes up it trips it and in killed at the neck. He is over 95 as of last week from those 5 holes. Probably has hit 100 since we talked last. His dad brought a trap over and within a week had gotten them both.
This is what our farmer friend and his Dad use. It comes in a couple of sizes. I am guessing the large one. I would say 100 is pretty awesome success for 5 holes around a soybean field. https://www.acehardware.com/departments/lawn-and-garden/insect-and-animal-control/animal-traps/8680837?store=15625&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20158972738&gbraid=0AAAAADtqLJEIYgZ1XqhaQgUjo68ARwzu1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwhafEBhCcARIsAEGZEKJPhcqViU7A_nNX_i_hwo-pCM43Uya91qVZDiqE2nJYXKjHgHcliKMaApB3EALw_wcB