If you live in Louisville—especially in suburban areas like Middletown, Fern Creek, or Jeffersontown—you are likely familiar with the Groundhog (also known as the Woodchuck or Whistle Pig).

These chubby rodents might look cute waddling across your lawn, but they are destructive engineering marvels. A single groundhog can excavate over 700 pounds of dirt to create a burrow system. When they choose to dig under your shed, deck, or concrete patio, that removal of soil creates a void that can crack foundations and cause structures to collapse.

Homeowners often try to fill the holes with rocks, dirt, or concrete, only to find it dug out again the next morning. Groundhogs are persistent. To stop them, you have to outsmart them.

Why Filling the Hole Doesn’t Work

Groundhogs view a filled hole as a minor inconvenience. They are built to dig. Pouring concrete into a hole often just diverts them to dig a new tunnel right next to it, causing even more damage to your foundation.

The Only Permanent Solution: Trenching & Screening

To keep a groundhog out, you must create a physical barrier that they cannot dig through or under. In the industry, we call this an “exclusion barrier” or “rat wall.”

Here is the step-by-step process we use to protect sheds and decks:

1. The Trench

We dig a trench around the entire perimeter of the structure (shed, deck, or porch). The trench needs to be approximately 12 inches deep and 12 inches wide.

2. The Wire Mesh

We use heavy-gauge 1/2 inch galvanized hardware cloth (steel mesh). Chicken wire is too weak; a groundhog can chew right through it. The wire is cut to fit the trench and the side of the structure.

3. The “L” Shape (The Secret Weapon)

This is the most important part. We don’t just put the wire straight down. We bend the bottom 12 inches of the wire outward, away from the structure, creating an “L” shape in the bottom of the trench.

• Why? When a groundhog digs, they go to the wall and dig straight down. They will hit the vertical wire. Instinctively, they will try to dig back to get under it. When they dig back, they hit the horizontal “L” shelf of wire. They cannot figure out how to get around this.

4. Securing the Mesh

The top of the mesh is securely fastened to the bottom of the shed or deck framing using screws and washers.

5. Backfilling

We fill the trench back in with the original soil or gravel. The barrier is now completely invisible from the surface, but your structure is like a fortress underground.

What About the Groundhog Inside?

Crucial Step: Before you seal the perimeter, you must ensure no animals are trapped underneath.

1. Install a One-Way Door: Leave one opening in the wire mesh and install a one-way exclusion door.

2. Wait: Allow 3-5 days for the groundhog to leave for food. The door lets them out but not back in.

3. Seal: Once you confirm activity has stopped (put a stick in front of the door to see if it moves), remove the door and seal the final gap.

Can I Do This Myself?

This is a labor-intensive project. Digging a trench around a deck in Kentucky clay soil is hard work. However, if you have the time and a strong back, it is a DIY-able project.

If you prefer to save your back (and ensure it’s done right with a warranty), Critter Removal of Louisville offers trenching and exclusion services. We protect your property so you can enjoy your backyard without worrying about sinking foundations.