A homeowner in Varennes, on the South Shore, called on our services after noticing that groundhogs had severely damaged a landscaping project recently completed at great expense. The animals had dug their burrows under an ornamental rock garden and uprooted several perennials planted the previous fall. The dry stone wall separating the two parts of the garden had also been weakened and partially destabilized by repeated excavations. The owner, who had invested time and money in this careful development, was in a hurry to protect his garden before the damage worsened further as the season progressed. In the neighbouring Sainte-Julie sector, owners of similar ornamental gardens had experienced identical situations that same spring, a sign that the pressure of groundhogs on the South Shore’s landscaping was particularly marked this year.
Damage diagnosis and burrow mapping
Our technician specializing in marmot capture carried out a meticulous inspection of the garden and its surroundings to establish a complete picture of the situation. Three active burrows have been identified with precision: the first and most elaborate, with a gallery of more than one metre in estimated depth, was located under the central ornamental rockery. The second opened at the foot of the dry stone wall, and the third was hidden under a tuft of large ornamental grasses planted in the background of the garden. The grazing marks on the perennials and dug up bulbs confirmed the intensity of feeding activity of these rodents throughout the development. Nova Extermination, an expert in the management of harmful wildlife in Quebec, has developed a capture plan that takes into account the fragility of the plants and surrounding ornamental structures to minimize additional damage during the intervention. Our previous work on the capture of marmots in a residential garden on the South Shore is a good illustration of our ability to intervene in these delicate landscape contexts.
Capture operation in a delicate environment
Three cage traps were carefully positioned in front of each of the active burrows, minimising trampling of the surrounding planted areas as much as possible. The devices were installed on lightweight wood panels to avoid crushing perennials on the ground and causing further damage to ornamental vegetation. The baits, made from carrots, fresh lettuce and pieces of ripe apple, were renewed every morning during the control visits. Our technicians have adopted a two-stage inspection protocol, morning and evening, to prevent the captured animals from remaining immobilized in the cages longer than necessary. In five days of intensive operation, two adult marmots were captured and relocated to a wooded area at a good distance from residential areas. The third burrow, under the ornamental grasses, remained inactive for three consecutive days, confirming the absence of a third active individual on the property. Our animal capture and relocation service guarantees respectful care that complies with all the rules in force in Quebec.
Landscaping protection and prevention of recurrence
The closure phase required particularly careful and meticulous work so as not to further degrade the existing landscaping. The three burrows were filled with crushed stone compacted to their full estimated depth, and their mouths sealed with fast-setting mortar. Under the ornamental rockery, a galvanized mesh was discreetly installed between the decorative stones to block any new digging without altering the aesthetic aspect of the composition. The dry stone wall was inspected in detail, and the weakened sections carefully put back in place before the installation of the protective mesh anchored to its base. Preventive treatment around the main planting areas was carried out by means of a semi-underground wire mesh fence surrounding the flower beds most vulnerable to future attempts. Advice on the choice of plants that are less appetizing for the marmot was also provided, particularly on plants with fragrant foliage or strong flavours that naturally deter these rodents. Our comprehensive burrowing animal protection program incorporates physical barriers and good maintenance practices for maximum long-term effectiveness. Our work on capturing marmots in another garden on the South Shore completes our portfolio of successful interventions in a residential landscaped environment. The ornamental garden was restored and benefited from the protection put in place for the rest of the season without any recurrence observed.