We shared in another article a video of groundhogs devouring our garden. While they’ve done all the damage, we need to get rid of them before the next planting. So we bought a humane catch-and-release Havahart groundhog trap from our local Ace Hardware, and set about researching the best groundhog bait to use.

You can see that video and article titled What Do Groundhogs Eat here, which has more food ideas for you. So this is just a short article to hone in on advice from pros on what is the best groundhog bait for trapping these critters.

Groundhogs, also known as woodchucks or whistle pigs, are large rodents that can cause significant damage to gardens, landscapes, and even structural foundations with their burrowing habits.

If you’ve found yourself with a pesky groundhog problem, trapping is a humane way to relocate them. But what bait should you use to make your trap irresistible to them? Let’s dive into the best options.

The Best Groundhog Bait

1. Fresh Vegetables – Garden Produce

Groundhogs are primarily herbivores with a penchant for fresh vegetables. They’ll eat most of the vegetables and then go for the leafy greens of garden vegetables.

(See also, edible leaves of fruit and vegetables leaves for additional food ideas for humans!)

Some of the best vegetables to use as bait include:

• Cucumber slices: Cucumbers are juicy and can attract groundhogs from a distance.
• Carrots: The natural sugar and crunch of carrots are favorites among many groundhogs.
• Lettuce: Its green color and moisture content can easily draw in a groundhog.
• String beans: Easily obtainable and liked by many groundhogs.
• Peas
• Broccoli
• Beans
• Cabbage
• Squash
• Squash leaves
• Tomatoes

Beyond that, if you’ve noticed that a groundhog is feasting on a specific type of plant or vegetable in your garden, using it as bait can be effective. The familiar scent and taste will likely lure the animal into the trap, however, handle it with gloves to try to avoid adding human scent to the offerings.

2. Fruits

While groundhogs love vegetables and vegetable leaves, they also enjoy fruits. The more aromatic fruits can attract groundhogs from afar, and perhaps also the color, seen by their dichromatic vision (seeing mostly greens and blues) more as a contrast from their usual garden fair.

Some examples of groundhogs favorite fruits include:

• Apples
• Bananas
• Melons, especially:
  • Cantaloupe: the Havahart company that makes humane traps for all kinds of critters said their field test showed that groundhogs were especially attracted to cantaloupe.
  • Watermelon: another very fragrant melon, to which they’re also attracted for the hydrating water.
• Peaches or Nectarines: These fruits are aromatic and can attract groundhogs from afar.
• Strawberries: Another bright and fragrant fruit to entice groundhogs.

3. Groundhog-specific baits

There are commercial baits formulated specifically for groundhogs. These often combine various ingredients that groundhogs find irresistible, making the trapping process more efficient. However, it’s cheaper to use food as the best groundhog bait.

Junk Food for Groundhog Bait…?

One community member shared an unusual groundhog bait idea:

“The kind of cheese balls you find in the snack aisle. Honestly! I threw some stale ones in my backyard, and 4 of them were out there eating them within a half an hour.“
~Lynn Lindorfer

Tips for Effective Baiting:

1. Placement: Ensure that the bait is situated in a way that the groundhog has to fully enter the trap to get to it. This will increase the likelihood of the trap door closing successfully.
2. Multiple bait types: Sometimes, mixing different kinds of baits can be effective. For instance, placing cucumber slices with apple chunks might enhance the appeal.
3. Freshness: Always use fresh bait. Replace old or dried out bait to keep it appealing.
4. Scent trails: Groundhogs have a keen sense of smell. By creating a scent trail leading to the trap, you can guide them directly to the bait.
5. Safety: Always use gloves when handling and placing bait to prevent transferring your scent onto it, which might deter the groundhog.

Remember, it’s essential to check local regulations before trapping and relocating groundhogs. Some areas might have specific guidelines about where and how you can release them.

And remember, these creatures are not out to get us. While groundhogs can definitely be troublesome, they have no malice or malintent. They’re just doing what they were made to do, so while losing garden plants (we lost ALL of ours, which you can see in this article on ‘What Do Groundhogs Eat’, we’re looking for more solutions for peaceful co-existence.

You may find this article titled ‘What Are Groundhogs Good for‘ helpful.