- LAST UPDATED: December 20, 2023
You’ve come to the right place if you’re looking for the best groundhog traps! Here are three of our top picks.
Top 3 Best Groundhog Traps in 2024 Comparison Table
| PREVIEW | PRODUCT | |
|---|---|---|
Our #1 Rated  | Havahart 1045 Two-Door Cage Trap
| Check Price |
People's Choice  | Duke Company Heavy Duty Large Cage Trap
| Check Price |
Best Budget  | HomGarden Large Cage Trap
| Check Price |
It’s that time of year again. The groundhogs are out and about, and you need to take precautions to keep them from wreaking havoc on your property. Groundhogs are cute, but they can be a real nuisance when they start digging up your garden or lawn.
PestKill.org is here to help. Luckily for you, I have already done the research, so all you have to do is read this article and pick out which trap is right for you!
3 Best Traps for Groundhogs Reviewed
All three of these traps have been proven to catch groundhogs with minimal effort. And the winner is Havahart 1045 Two-Door Cage Trap.
1. Havahart 1045 Two-Door Cage Trap – The Best Humane Trap for Groundhogs (Editor’s Choice)
The first trap on our list is the Havahart 1045 2-Door Cage Trap. This trap is perfect for capturing those pesky groundhogs eating your garden vegetables. The cage is made of heavy-duty steel wire, so you know it will last. It also has two spring-loaded doors that make it easy to set and release.
You can use the Havahart Trap to capture both adult groundhogs and their young ones if you’re trying to eradicate an entire family of these pests from your home or property.
Groundhogs pose risks by destroying gardens, chewing on electrical wires, and damaging building foundations. If you have a groundhog problem, this trap is the best way to solve it.
Trapping groundhogs don’t have to be complicated or dangerous when using the Havahart Two-Door Cage Trap.
How Does It Work
This trap has two spring-loaded doors that are sensitive enough to trigger when an animal walks on them. The doors close quickly and securely, trapping the animal inside without injuring it.
This trap is constructed with sturdy, rust-resistant galvanized steel for long-lasting use in outdoor settings and includes a carrying handle for easy transport.
- Humane trapping – groundhogs are not harmed in any way.
- The cage is made of heavy-duty steel wire for durability.
- Two spring-loaded doors make it easy to set and release.
- The cage is durable and will last for many catches.
- Groundhogs can injure themselves if the trap is not handled correctly.
- May take multiple attempts to catch a groundhog.
- Can only be used for adult groundhogs or their young.
2. Duke Company Heavy Duty Large Cage Trap – The Best Live Animal Trap (People’s Choice)
Next up is the Duke Heavy Duty Large Cage Trap. This trap is designed to capture live animals without harming them. It’s perfect for those who want to relocate their groundhogs instead of killing them.
The size of 30x12x12 inches makes it perfect for trapping larger animals, and the bait-protected cage mesh keeps any food from being spoiled by rain or snow.
Its heavy-duty construction means that you won’t have to worry about your prey escaping when you’re ready to relocate them somewhere else on your property or into another area altogether.
If you want a reliable trap that’s easy to set up, look no further than Duke Cage Trap.
- Easy to use.
- Durable construction.
- Feel good about relocating groundhogs instead of killing them.
- It blends well with bushes thanks to its green color.
- It is not possible to fit a small container of food behind the trip plate.
3. HomGarden Humane Catch & Release Large Cage Trap
HomGarden Large Cage Trap is a great groundhog trap for people who want to ensure that they will release their animal back into the wild. The preassembled cage traps are easy to use and effectively catch animals quickly and humanely. With these cages, you’ll never have to worry about an injured or angry animal trying to fight its way out of the trap by biting or scratching humans again!
How Does It Work
HomGarden provides sensitive triggers on all of their traps with this design to ensure your safety. This means that when a creature enters the cage, it will not set off any triggers until they’ve entered all the way inside – so there’s no need to worry about hurting yourself before you can catch it!
There are also no sharp edges on these cages, so you won’t have to worry about an animal being cut or punctured as it’s trying to escape.
The best part about this product is that it comes with a warranty! If you’re not satisfied with your purchase, you can return it within 30 days for a full refund.
So what are you waiting for? Order your own HomGarden Large Cage Trap today and be free of groundhogs tomorrow!
- No sharp edges.
- The trigger is sensitive so the animal won’t be hurt.
- You’re helping an animal live humanely and safely.
- The installation instructions may be unclear.
- The trap may rust.
What are the Best Groundhog Traps in 2024? – Your Expert Buyer’s Guide
Are pesky Groundhogs wreaking havoc on your lawn? These creatures can be damaging pests to your landscape and garden when they feed on your plants or create their burrows. Once these large rodents have settled on the area, they are persistent about staying there.
If groundhogs/woodchucks are creating problems on your property, there are plenty of effective control options that allow you to eliminate these pests without harming them. Trapping is one of those excellent methods of groundhogs’ control. Read on easy-to-follow trapping tips and instructions to help you get the job done!
Top 6 Instructive Tips on How to Trap a Groundhog
Groundhogs can be a huge problem for farmers. When their population surge, these pests will damage food plots and crops. While farmers can practice groundhog control by shooting, such control methods are not an option when destructive groundhogs move around your property in a residential neighborhood.
As woodchucks more often live in populated areas, it becomes more difficult to control them. They will feed on just about any flower or plant around your home, which means that your plants will be quickly damaged by their feeding.
A live trap is the most efficient way to remove a bothersome woodchuck from your yard.
So, how to catch a groundhog? Remember, groundhogs are cautious critters. If you want to catch the animal successfully, pay attention to the following tips.
Choose the Right Trap
Size is the most important criterion when purchasing a live woodchuck trap. The trap should give the animal enough space to enter it fully. I suggest selecting a trap from 30″ to 42″ in length.Oh, groundhogs… Want to eliminate these nuisance animals once and for all? Ensure you have a safe, strong, and large enough trap to catch a groundhog. These burrowing pests are powerful, so the trap you choose should be sturdy and well constructed to prevent the animal from escaping. Havahart traps can make the process of trapping safe and effective.
Once you’ve trapped a pesky groundhog, use the best groundhog repellent to stop this critter from coming back.
Think Where to Place the Trap
Don’t know where to place the cage? The best place for the trap is in the most-groundhog-activity locations. That’s why you need to locate a burrow. After that, set your trap 6-10 ft from the entrance.Is it difficult for you to locate a burrow? Then place the trap where you have seen the most woodchuck damage or where this animal frequents.
Make Your Trap More Inviting
Do you know that groundhogs are cautious critters? This is why they may be reluctant to enter some unnaturally-for-them cage trap.To make your trap more inviting, camouflage it with some special cover elements like:
- Brush,
- Twigs,
- Dirt,
- Grass,
- Branches,
- Leaves.
Bait Your Trap
Trapping groundhogs won’t be puzzling if you will bait the trap correctly. This will help you to make woodchuck trapping much more successful.You can bait the trap with something the woodchuck regularly steals from your garden or with cantaloupe. It would be best if you placed the bait in a way that forces the woodchuck to enter the live trap fully.
Woodchucks will avoid a live trap that carries your scent.
Use a pair of gloves when handling the trap and clean it before using.Set and Then Monitor the Trap
Set the trap by following its special setting instructions. Once the woodchuck is trapped it can become anxious.To prevent the woodchuck from trying to escape, monitor the trap regularly.
Relocate the Animal
How to get rid of groundhogs after you have caught the pests? Relocate the woodchuck at least 5 or 6 miles away from your property.Although woodchucks are not aggressive, one can attack if it feels threatened. Therefore you are to stand back from the animal when it exits the trap.
When relocating your woodchuck, choose a location that provides cover so that the animal won’t want to go far for making a new home.
Size is the most important criterion when purchasing a live woodchuck trap. The trap should give the animal enough space to enter it fully. I suggest selecting a trap from 30″ to 42″ in length.
Don’t know where to place the cage? The best place for the trap is in the most-groundhog-activity locations. That’s why you need to locate a burrow. After that, set your trap 6-10 ft from the entrance.
Do you know that groundhogs are cautious critters? This is why they may be reluctant to enter some unnaturally-for-them cage trap.
Trapping groundhogs won’t be puzzling if you will bait the trap correctly. This will help you to make woodchuck trapping much more successful.
Set the trap by following its special setting instructions. Once the woodchuck is trapped it can become anxious.
What to Use in Groundhog Trap
Woodchucks’ burrowing activities can quickly damage any home foundation. What’s more, these pesky animals have voracious appetite for the vegetables, fruits and plants growing in your garden.
Once you’ve selected the proper trap to catch a pesky groundhog, use a carefully selected woodchuck lure.
How to Bait a Woodchuck Trap
Bait for groundhogs trapping must be positioned in the trap in the right way.
- Single-Door Trap
If you use a one-door trap, place the bait – for catching groundhogs – at the end of your live trap behind the trigger plate. Keep the bait far from the walls of the trap to prevent a woodchuck from reaching the bait from outside of the cage.
- 2-Door Trap
If you use a two-door trap, you are to hang the bait from the top of the trap or place it directly onto the plate.
It’s essential where you place the bait as the best placement of it will:
- Require the woodchuck to step on the trigger plate to reach it;
- Lure the woodchuck fully into the trap.
Find out what types of foods your groundhog is stealing and use them for baiting your trap. In fact, these pests are attracted to sweet fruits and herbaceous green plants.
The best natural groundhog bait for traps include:
- Cantaloupe,
- Fresh string beans,
- Peas,
- Lettuce,
- Peaches,
- Vanilla extract,
- Strawberries,
- Sweet corn.
Then position your baited live trap about four feet from the burrow.
When it comes to the best bait for pesky groundhogs we suggest using cantaloupe. Set the trap with cantaloupe in a special position indicated above. Rub its juice and rind throughout the outside and inside of the trap.
The Best Bait for Groundhog Traps on the Market to Buy in 2024
- The product consists of 100% food-grade materials to make the woodchuck’s mouth water.
- This long-lasting formula is designed for woodchucks & groundhogs. Pro-Pest is something they can’t resist.
- How to use: Smear the 1 teaspoon of paste on a large leafy vegetable and place in rear of trap.
Are you frequently visited by bothersome and unwelcome groundhogs in your garden or yard? Use our trapping tips and instructions and remove them easily!
Conclusion
The three humane cage traps I’ve listed here are great choices for those looking to avoid harming the animal and want to release it into the wild safely.
I recommend the Havahart Two-Door Cage Trap if you have a moderate amount of experience with trapping; it’s easy to use and set up.
If you live in an area where there are a lot of groundhogs, or you have one that is proving difficult to trap, then we suggest going for the Duke Heavy Duty Large Trap – it’s our top pick for this situation.
Finally, if you’re starting or don’t want to spend a lot of money on a trap, the HomGarden Trap is a great budget-friendly option.
Whichever trap you choose, follow the directions carefully and check your local laws and regulations before setting it up. Good luck!
