Groundhogs are Ohio’s only true hibernating mammal. Remember, consult the law for yourself as you are ultimately responsible. (B) There is no bag limit or possession limit on fox, skunk, weasel, raccoon, opossum, mink, coyotes, beaver or muskrat. (See rule for specifics), Foothold trap – cannot have an inside jaw measurement greater then 5 5/8 inches and cannot have teeth on the jaws. It’s liable to spray just about anyone who comes near the trap, even if the person is just trying to set it free. (A) Throughout the state, it shall be unlawful for a person to hunt, trap, take, or possess furbearing animals except according to this rule and other rules in the Administrative Code or the Revised Code. Since skunks – as well as raccoons, bats, groundhogs, foxes and coyotes – are rabies vector species, they should not be relocated like other wildlife. 3. You may purchase a live box trap at most garden supply or home improvement stores. These laws exist to aid property owners in nuisance wildlife management. Groundhogs may be euthanized. 2020-21 Ohio Hunting & Trapping Regulations (Spanish/Español) [pdf] On page 9 of the Hunting Regulations, it states that "From Dec. 7, 2020 to Feb. 7, 2021, only antlered deer may be taken from specific public hunting areas in Ohio." While wildlife is generally protected under the law, protection is removed if the animal is … Per KRS 150.170, landowners may deal with nuisance wildlife through scare tactics, repellents, fencing and exclusion, or removal via shooting or trapping. ****Note on body gripping traps : Please understand these traps are lethal and can break bones or kill your neighbors’ pets easily if not used properly and according to the law. A groundhog may be released alive in Ohio provided it is 1) Not injured 2)released outside the limits of any incorporated city or village and 3) you have the permission of the landowner. Not too many people want groundhogs. If you are in the Akron, Canton, Kent Ohio area and need any help with your groundhog problem, we would be happy to provide groundhog removal services for you. A body gripping trap known as a conibear trap, a foothold trap or a live trap. But There Is A Catch! This shouldn’t happen. Body grippers with a jaw spread measuring from five to seven inches must have something covering or blocking access to the trap from the outside. The problem, of course, is what to do with the skunk. This video is unavailable. 1501:31-15-09 Hunting and trapping regulations for furbearing animals. All foothold traps set on dry land must have at least three s… Some states have year-round open season against these animals, so trapping and killing is not an issue. Groundhogs can be captured or killed year-round without a permit or hunting or trapping license from the DNR, and there are no limits to the number that can be taken. Their fur is a yellowish-brown to black in color. 1. If you intend to live trap a groundhog, contact the Nuisance Wildlife Information Line at 1-877-463-6497 for more information. Groundhogs are normally in their burrows at night. It shall be unlawful for any person to trap or take nuisance wild animals, except as provided in this rule. To help makes sure the entire project from start to finish is as easy as possible for you, we help connect you with qualified pros who specialize in groundhog removal services, as well as a host of other home improvement projects for both residential and commercial properties. GROUNDHOG TRAPPING: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW NUISANCE CONCERNS: Even though groundhogs are cute looking, they can do a considerable amount of damage to a property. Groundhogs may be euthanized. Like deer, it's the pups that suffer and therefore the population loss. Remember, consult the law for yourself as you are ultimately responsible. Who can remove a nuisance groundhog from private property? Again, this is our summary. (See rule for specifics), Foothold trap – cannot have an inside jaw measurement greater then 5 5/8 inches and cannot have teeth on the jaws. You do not need a hunting license to kill a problem groundhog. 3. We hope this has been a helpful review of the laws as they pertain to the removal of nuisance groundhogs and woodchucks. Staying clear of traps other than cage traps makes your chances of rule compliance high. (1) It shall be lawful for any person to trap or take live, nuisance wild animals. Written permission from the owner if that is not you, The trap must have identification of the trapper on it (Name and mailing address suffice; see rule for other methods and details of trap identification), The ability to check your traps once every calendar day, Cage traps – none except for identification, Body Gripping Traps- Trap can not have a jaw spread greater than seven inches. OHIO Hunting & Trapping Regulations 2017-2018 Effective SEPTEMBER 1, 2017 to AUGUST 31, 2018 OHIO DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES DIVISION OF WILDLIFE wildohio.gov Groundhogs have short, powerful limbs and thick claws. Wildlife Removal Service in Henry County, OH. Who can remove a nuisance groundhog from private property? To quickly and effectively trap the groundhog, place logs directing the groundhog toward the trap. The cage-type trap must be labeled with your full name and address, or Conservation ID number; must be attended daily; and have an opening of 144 square inches or smaller. No permit is required to trap a groundhog. Get to know the laws in your area before trapping and relocating a groundhog. Some animals are protected by law. 1. Trapping is limited to abundant furbearers and is a significant part of Indiana's history, culture and wildlife management. When continual groundhog damage occurs in a field used for farming or in the family yard, it can be irritating and cumbersome. And to rid yourself of groundhogs, they must be trapped with Live Traps (cage traps) or the proper body-gripping traps which are lethal. The nuisance trapping law can be found HERE. Our goal with this post is to summarize the rules and point you to actual text of the code. (Only what’s in the hole should be able to get in the trap), Snares- Must be made of steel cable. Many people who are having first time problems with nuisance wildlife often want to know what, if any rules, apply. A friend had a groundhog problem so we solved it for him. To stay on the right side of the law, we suggest using a box-style live trap. Ohio. Before you start trapping this burrowing animal, look up your state laws on trapping groundhogs and the procedures you must follow. As a landowner or tenant, you can legally capture some species of nuisance wildlife without a permit if the animal is discovered to be causing damage. Yes, Raccoon Trapping Without A License Is Permitted! 1501:31-15-03 Nuisance wild animal control. However, we do compliment you on desiring to know the laws and we will break down the regulations, as they pertain to groundhogs, as simply as we can here. Wildlife Trapping Company; Attic Restoration Service Animal Damage Repair; Cleanup Of Wild Animal Waste (If you choose this option, please do so humanely and know your local firearm laws). 5. 2. You may take groundhogs with a cage-type trap at any hour during the open hunting season if you possess a hunting permit. Must have a relaxing lock system and cannot be “lethal” unless you are a certified operator. We are not giving legal advice here, as we are not attorneys. Discussion in 'Ohio Trapping and Varmint Hunting' started by parrish, Mar 17, 2010. Landowners have several options for dealing with nuisance wildlife. Foothold traps must not be set above snow or ground level. Because of possible changes, this summary may not be an accurate reflection of the Raccoons spread diseases. However, only those with State of Ohio Certification can charge a fee. If you don’t have previous experience, best to steer clear***. These burrows are where they sleep, rear their young and hibernate. Males are typically larger than females. 6. If you choose to release the groundhog, the biggest challenge is getting permission to release the groundhog on private property. Groundhogs weigh around 7-14 lbs and are around 25 inches in length, including the tail. View the regulations for yourself: Ohio Administrative Code 1501:31-15-03 ” Nuisance wild animal control” which was revised as of June 1, 2013. If you really don’t want to kill the groundhog, you may decide caging and relocation is the way to go. 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