Groundhogs or moles

[Thumper38]

I had an inkling that there is either or in my yard. But hadn't been able to confirm it until today. After I woke up this morning and let the dogs out I caught the dogs eating one. But it was too mangled to really tell which it is.

Yeah I could probably poison them and get rid of em. But Id like to avoid that if I can. So Id like to know if anyone in here has had any experience with those solar powered ultrasonic deterents. How well do they work if they work at all?

 

[alp]

Could you upload a pic of what you have seen please?

 

[Beth_B]

Moles are quite small, maybe 6-8" long, with dark gray velvety fur. You'd probably see evidence of their tunnels in your yard. Groundhogs are much bigger - larger and heavier built than a cat, dense coarse brown fur.
Could it have been a possum? Cat-sized, light gray fur, naked pink tail.

The methods for getting rid of them would be quite different, I think. Honestly if you're not having any issue with moles digging through your lawn, I wouldn't worry about it. I have raccoons, possums, skunks, groundhogs, rabbits, voles, mice...they're pretty ubiquitous even in urban areas.

I hate when the dogs kill a critter, (especially a skunk ) but it happens pretty rarely. If the dogs bark after dark and want to go out, I have a big flashlight and check the yard first before letting them out.

 

[LIcenter]

Do you live near a horse farm/ranch like I do? Rats are pretty common in areas like that. Even neighbors who leave their pets outside all night with a food bowl will bring in rats.

 

[mgmine]

Get a medium size have a heart trap and set it in the yard. What ever it is can be transported once you catch it.

 

[Thumper38]

I dont think you folks want to see a pic. It is absolutely unidentifiable. And I got rid of it before I went to bed.

I noticed the tunnels before I bought the place so I figured moles cause I didnt see any mounds. But hadnt seen anything until yesterday morning.

We live in town with only other houses around. I dont believe they caught a rat and it wasnt a rabbit. The legs and paws were all wrong. Im aware of the size difference. But being unaware of the breeding cycle of each I wasnt sure if it could have been a young groundhog or a large mole. Guestimate before they got ahold of him. Probably ten to twelve inches long.

One neighbor had said theyve had mole problems. And the other said groundhog problems. So I figured Id ask if there was much of a difference with dealing with them without traps. Anykind of trapping outside of your home is heavily regulated in city limits. Yeah i know. Its stupid.

 

[roadrunner]

It's possible that you're seeing the tunnels of moles, but whatever your dogs killed was not what caused the tunnels, since moles (that I know of) don't get that big.

 

[mgmine]

Ground hogs make huge holes, moles make small ones like chipmunks.