Professional Groundhog Removal Services
You might not think much of the groundhog grazing at the edge of your yard.
Most people don't.
But right now, underneath your property, something is happening that you can't see.
A single groundhog can dig up to 50 feet of tunnels. Those tunnels go wherever they want: under your foundation, your driveway, your deck, your retaining wall.
By the time the damage shows up above ground, it's already expensive.
We locate the burrows, remove the animal, and seal the entry points so the next one can't move in where this one left off.
Ready to get rid of the problem? Free inspection — same-day response across Knoxville & East Tennessee.
Signs You Have a Groundhog Problem
- Burrow Entrances: Groundhog holes are typically 10 to 12 inches in diameter with a mound of loose dirt nearby. Look for them along fence lines, under decks and sheds, at garden edges, and near foundations. Multiple entrances usually mean a well-established burrow system.
- Garden and Crop Damage: Groundhogs are voracious feeders that target vegetables, flowers, and ornamental plants. Cleanly clipped stems, missing leafy greens, and gnawed root vegetables are classic signs.
- Undermined Structures: Soft or sinking ground near a foundation, deck post, retaining wall, or driveway edge is a serious warning sign that a burrow has compromised the soil beneath.
- Gnawing on Wood or Wiring: Groundhogs gnaw to keep their teeth trimmed and will chew on deck boards, fence posts, and occasionally electrical or irrigation lines running near the ground.
- Visual Sightings: Groundhogs are active during daylight hours, especially in early morning and late afternoon. Regular sightings near structures or the garden confirm an established resident, not just a passing visitor.
Our Groundhog Removal Process
Groundhogs are trap-wary animals and their burrow systems can be extensive, with multiple escape exits that make simple trapping unreliable. Our process accounts for the full burrow system, not just the visible entrance.
- Free Inspection: We walk the property to locate all active burrow entrances, assess proximity to structures, and identify the feeding areas the groundhog is using, giving us the information we need to trap effectively.
- Targeted Trapping: We position traps at active burrow entrances and feeding corridors, using bait and placement techniques that account for groundhog behavior. Traps are monitored regularly until the animal is removed.
- Burrow Assessment & Backfill: After removal, we assess the extent of the burrow system, backfill tunnels where necessary, and identify any structural impact the burrowing may have caused.
- Exclusion & Entry Prevention: Where appropriate, we install exclusion barriers around foundations, decks, and sheds to prevent new groundhogs from digging in and establishing under the same structures.
- Prevention Warranty: Our work is backed by a warranty so you can have lasting peace of mind.
Dangers of Groundhogs on Your Property
The most serious risk groundhogs pose is structural, and it's largely invisible until something fails.
Burrows under a foundation create voids that lead to settlement and cracking. Tunnels under driveways and retaining walls can cause sinkholes and collapse without warning. Burrows in lawns and pastures create ankle-turning trip hazards that are a real liability for both people and livestock.
Then there's the surface damage. Groundhogs will systematically work through a vegetable garden over the course of a season. Their feeding damage to ornamental landscaping can be significant and fast.
A groundhog that has found a reliable food source and a safe burrow stays indefinitely. Remove it, leave the burrow open, and the next one moves right in.
Why Choose Wills Wildlife Control?
- Burrow System Expertise: We don't just trap at the front door, we assess the full burrow network so nothing gets missed and the problem is resolved completely.
- Licensed & Insured: Fully certified by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA), so every removal is legal, documented, and done right.
- Local Experts, Not a Franchise: We're Knoxville-based with over 30 years of combined experience. We know local wildlife behavior, local terrain, and local regulations.
- Fast Response: Most jobs are scheduled same-day or next-day, because the longer a groundhog stays, the deeper the burrow gets.
- 5-Star Rated: Over 90+ verified Google reviews with a perfect 5.0 score from homeowners across East Tennessee.