Also known as woodchucks, groundhogs can cause a surprising amount of damage to your home in a short period. However, since they live in burrows and move quickly, it's tough to catch them in the act, and it can be nearly impossible to deter them without help from a woodchuck removal specialist. Here are a few signs that indicate you have a groundhog damaging your home.

How to Tell if You Have a Groundhog Problem 

1. Whistling Noises

Groundhogs have a distinctive method of communicating. They make a high-pitched whistling noise by blowing air out of their mouths through their teeth.

If you hear this peculiar sound around your home, there may be multiple groundhogs nearby that are communicating with one another. The noise is so distinctive that some people refer to woodchucks as whistle-pigs. 

2. Dirt Mounds & Holes

Groundhogs love to dig. Therefore, you're bound to find holes, dirt mounds, and tunnels around your property if groundhogs are present. 

The animals use their strong front paws to dig inward for a few feet, and then they'll dig upward for a similar distance. After that, they'll burrow horizontally to create tunnels that are between 15 and 25 feet long.

They'll often build multiple side tunnels off of the main channel to create an elaborate underground home for themselves. Additionally, they like to create multiple entrances so that they can easily access their den.

3. Ruined Garden

Groundhogs love the taste of fruits, vegetables, and flowers. They'll eat your homegrown produce before you have the chance to harvest it, and they'll munch on flowers, destroying your beautiful garden.

If you find half-eaten fruits and vegetables, see jagged bite marks on your plants, or find oval-shaped droppings in your garden, you may have a groundhog in your yard. A woodchuck removal specialist can look at your garden and determine the best course of action.

If you have a woodchuck problem, American Bio-Tech Wildlife Services in Milford, CT, will help. This nuisance wildlife removal company uses safe and ethical techniques to rid your home of pesky rodents, insects, and critters. They've provided woodchuck removal services throughout Connecticut for more than 50 years. Learn more about their offerings online, or request a consultation by calling (860) 355-1231.