A vegetable farm operating in Saint-Constant, on the South Shore, called on our team after suffering repeated damage to its vegetable rows and tunnel greenhouses during the summer season. Groundhogs and raccoons had been observed on several occasions foraging crops at night and digging burrows along production driveways. Losses on squash, carrots and lettuce were starting to have a real economic impact on the farm. The farm, located on the edge of a wooded corridor along Route 132 between Saint-Constant and Delson, was particularly exposed to incursions by wild animals that took advantage of the transition zones between cultivated fields and natural areas to feed.
Damage assessment and species identification
The initial inspection identified two distinct species responsible for the damage. Groundhogs dug active burrows at the edge of crop mounds, using passages under the rows to access roots and surface vegetables. Raccoons, on the other hand, would mainly loot the rows of sweet corn and squash in the evening, leaving ears partially devoured and plants toppled. Surveillance cameras provided by the owner confirmed the regular presence of the two species at the beginning of the night. In the field, our technicians counted seven active marmot burrows spread over the perimeter of the fields. Two raccoon roost sites have been identified under the composting plates at the north edge of the property.
The simultaneous presence of two different species implied a two-pronged intervention strategy, with different baits, traps, and periods of activity for each species. This complexity was clearly explained to the owner at the meeting prior to the intervention.
Time-phased capture program
Given the number of animals involved and the size of the farm, we have established a capture program in two consecutive phases. The first phase targeted marmots with cage traps baited with fresh carrots and alfalfa, positioned in front of the most active burrows in the middle of the day, a period of maximum activity for this animal. The second phase deployed larger traps for raccoons, baited with fresh corn and sardines, activated in the evening. The entire program was spread over ten days of intervention. A total of six groundhogs and three raccoons were captured and relocated to approved natural areas, several kilometres from the agricultural sector. Our pest capture service is adapted to agricultural contexts where several species coexist and cause concomitant damage.
Crop and infrastructure protection
After the captures, our technicians helped the owner set up sustainable physical barriers around the most vulnerable areas. A galvanised wire mesh was laid in an L-shape around the perimeter of the tunnel greenhouses, buried twenty-five centimetres deep to counter the digging of marmots. The spaces under the compost plates were secured with bite-resistant materials, depriving raccoons of their usual roosting sites on the property. The closure of potential entry points was extended to the vicinity of equipment storage buildings, which had several hollow spaces under their bases. Our team in Saint-Constant is used to working in an agricultural environment and adapts its methods to preserve crops and respect the operational constraints of the farm.
Preventive management for the next season
A detailed seasonal prevention plan was given to the farmer, covering all the measures to be implemented before the resumption of agricultural activities in the spring. This plan includes: inspecting potential burrows at the edge of fields before cultivation, checking fences and buried trellises after the snow melts, and placing natural scent repellents at the edges of the most exposed areas at the beginning of the season. A spring follow-up visit was proposed to check the condition of the fences and the absence of new burrows. Nova Extermination offers an annual visit package adapted to vegetable farms on the South Shore, guaranteeing proactive protection of crops against recurrent incursions by wildlife. Check out our raccoon management in a rural context to see how we intervene in comparable situations in Saint-Constant.