Discover 9 Smells Groundhogs Absolutely Hate and Keep Them Out of Your Yard

Groundhogs, also referred to as woodchucks or whistle pigs, are mammals that reside in the eastern regions of the United States and Canada. It is estimated that there are 200 million groundhogs in the world. Groundhogs are prey animals that can grow to 13 pounds in weight. They can travel at the highest speed of 10 mph. While groundhogs are not a bother, they can become one if they can access gardens, woodlands, or forests near your home. Their ability to burrow and destroy prize-winning gardens is the main reason you want to avoid having a groundhog problem. Thankfully, this article will cover nine smells that groundhogs hate to evict them from your home.

Five Common Types of Groundhogs

With millions of groundhogs in the United States and Canada, these five types of groundhogs are most likely to invite themselves into your gardens.

1. The Woodchuck

The woodchuck is the most famous groundhog that you will most likely encounter trying to feast on your garden. These massive, stocky, and powerful mammals are found throughout North America.

Woodchucks are brown and have noticeably fluffy tails. 

Their ability to burrow is the top reason that they are considered pesky.

2. Marmota monax: The Eastern Groundhog

Eastern groundhogs are subspecies of woodchucks found in the eastern cavities of the United States and Canada.

Their appearance is close to the woodchuck. However, the eastern groundhog has a smaller physique and does not have as long of a tail.

The eastern groundhogs are infamous for their six-month hibernation habits. It’s best to keep these groundhogs away unless you want them to stay with you for half a year.

3. Marmota flaviventris: The Yellow-Bellied Marmot

The Marmota flaviventris are located in the western part of the United States, from Alaska to New Mexico. 

Their name comes from their obvious yellow tummies and fur. 

They live in large families and are known for their climbing skills. This means they can get through gates and fences and will be bringing their family over the feast on your garden that you worked so hard on.

4. Marmota vancouverensis: The Vancouver Island Marmot

These groundhogs are an endangered species in the Vancouver Island area of Canada. These groundhogs are rare to find, and only a few are left. Like the woodchucks, they have brown fur but also have a distinguishable white marking on their chest.

Similar to the other groundhogs, they also have great climbing skills. They are most likely to be found in alpine meadow areas.

5. Marmota bobak: The European Groundhog

The European groundhog has a similar appearance to its woodchuck cousin. They can be found in the eastern and central parts of Asia and Europe. 

Due to their nuisances related to damaging crops, they are considered a threat. Unfortunately, in some parts of Europe and Asia, they are hunted for their skin and as food.

How Do You Stop Groundhogs? 

Groundhogs don’t usually cause problems in yards unless a lavish garden with lots of plants to feast on is present. Using scents is a great way to prevent and deter groundhogs from making themselves at home. 

Aside from their garden havoc, they can injure livestock such as horses and cows if you have any. This is not because of the groundhog itself. Rather, it is because of their massive burrows. Livestock can snap and break limbs and bones, resulting in unwanted expenses.

Scents That Repel Groundhogs

What’s fascinating about groundhogs is that they don’t use their noses for the sake of smelling. Instead, it acts as an alarm system to warn them of predators, being that groundhogs are prey mammals. 

1. Predator Urine

One of the most potent scents in repelling groundhogs is predator urine. Predator urine comes from animals such as coyotes and foxes. Now, have no fear. You do not have to go into the wild to obtain predator urine. You can visit your local home improvement store. To use predator urine, you will carefully read the instructions and follow the directions on the label. Make sure that you create a barrier by applying it around the perimeters of your garden.

2. Putrescent Eggs

Rotten eggs are another smell that groundhogs hate. They can make the average human gag, let alone the effect it has on groundhogs and woodchucks. For woodchucks and groundhogs, it triggers their danger alarms. You can buy rotten egg spray online and at local improvement stores. However, if you want a cost-effective way, you can make the spray at home with the following recipe.

Ingredients

• 3 Eggs
• 8 Cups of Water
• Spray Bottle( glass is highly recommended.)

Directions

1. Whisk the three eggs together in a beaker until it makes a scrambled egg consistency.
2. Add water to eggs.
3. Pour into a spray bottle. 
4. Spray around the garden area to create a barrier. Once you spray the eggs outside, be advised that the rotten egg scent will start.

3. Garlic, Pepper, and Hot Sauce

Most of us as humans love the bite of spice. It helps our metabolism and can improve our immune system. When it comes to groundhogs, however, they find this scent quite unpleasant. One easy way to use spicy scents to ward off groundhogs is to sprinkle black pepper around your garden. If you have spicy mustard, garlic, onion, and hot sauce, you can also try this homemade remedy:

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp garlic powder.
• 1 tbsp chopped onions or onion powder.
• 1 tbsp hot sauce.
• 3 cups of water.
• 1 tbsp spicy mustard.

Directions

1. Bring the three cups of water to a boil.
2. Reduce heat once water is boiling.
3. Combine garlic, onion, mustard, and hot sauce until mixed thoroughly.
4. Let cool.
5. Add to a glass spray bottle and use around your garden garden area.

4. Geranium Essential Oil

For humans, essential oils improve our wellness, reduce our stress, and improve minor ailments. However, groundhogs do not get any benefits besides an eviction notice from their nostrils. Try this easy-to-make recipe:

Ingredients

• Dropper
• Geranium Essential Oil.
• 1 cup water.

Directions

1. Simply mix 1 cup of water with 10-15 drops of geranium essential oil into a glass bottle.
2. Shake up and use as needed.

5. Castor Oil

Castor oil is a potent oil in repelling groundhogs due to its pungent smell. To use castor oil, you will dilute a small amount and combine it with water. Then, you will follow the directions on the castor oil package. Spray the solution evenly along fences, entrances to burrows, and close to veggies and plants. If you’ve had heavy rainfall, you will want to respray every so week. While using castor oil, be sure to have on gloves and safety glasses to protect your skin and eyes.

6. Cayenne Pepper

We love cayenne pepper for its smell and taste. However, our woodchuck friends are not as keen. Cayenne pepper smells overwhelming, and the taste of it to groundhogs is overpowering, making it a powerful ally in repelling them. If you want to use the power of cayenne to protect your luscious leaves, you can either make a solution of water and cayenne pepper and spray, or you can simply sprinkle cayenne pepper powder on your soil and around the general area of your garden and yard.

7. Lavender

Lavender is a wonderful plant that promotes peace and serenity for humans. However, groundhogs find the scent disturbing. To use lavender, you can purchase a plant and grow it in your garden, or you can purchase seeds and grow them so that you have fresh and natural lavender.

8. Moth Balls

Mothballs have a distinctive smell that you cannot miss! 

This holds for groundhogs as well. There is a compound in mothballs that creates a repulsive reaction in groundhogs, thus sending an eviction notice to them through scent. To use mothballs to repel groundhogs, apply mothballs around the openings and areas where the burrows of the groundhogs are burrowing. For best results, use highly concentrated mothballs.

*Caution: When using mothballs, please be advised to use gloves and keep them out of reach of children and pets. Additionally, wash your hands after handling mothballs to avoid the risk of toxic exposure to your food or when preparing your furry best friend’s dinner.

9. Eucalyptus

For marsupials, eucalyptus can be beneficial as a treat and enhance their coat. However, this is one of many smells that groundhogs hate. To this natural oil, apply some to a few cotton balls or cotton pads, and apply to entrances, burrows, or where you are experiencing groundhogs the most. Additionally, you can plant shrubs and trees of eucalyptus in your yard for a more natural resource. While eucalyptus is very effective and even safe for humans and pets, it should be warned to avoid contact with eyes or skin. Therefore, after using eucalyptus to repel pesky visitors, please be advised to wash your hands and face.

Summary of 9 Smells That Groundhogs Absolutely Hate

Scent	Effect
Predator Urine	Triggers Danger Response
Putrescent Eggs	A pungent scent will send groundhogs packing!
Garlic, Pepper, and Hot Sauce	It has an element to the oil that stresses groundhogs out, causing them to retreat from your garden.
Geranium Essential Oil	A pungent scent will send groundhogs packing!
Castor Oil	The smell and taste are very bitter and unpleasant, which makes groundhogs disappear.
Cayenne Pepper	It has an element to the oil which stresses groundhogs out, causing them to retreat from your garden.
Lavender	Overwhelms their sensory system.
Moth Balls	Naphthalene compound overloads their system.