Groundhog bait is exactly what it sounds like—a specially-designed, edible substance created to attract and trap woodchucks. Many types of baits can be made at home, since groundhogs like to eat fresh fruits and vegetables. If you don’t want a special bait (although they are more effective), you can cut fruit and leave pieces near a trap.
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What’s Inside a Groundhog Bait?
Groundhogs are vegetarians, though they will eat insects in times of absolute necessity. Since they enjoy plants so much, most baits are derived from berries, greens, and other sweet juices. Sometimes companies will include human foods like peanut butter, since they have strong scents and include a lot of sugar.
Specialized vs. General
Some companies develop baits designed especially for groundhogs, while others are more general.
It goes without saying that a bait specially made for woodchucks tends to be more effective than a general bait, since the ingredients closely match the ideal groundhog diet.
When you’re shopping around for a bait, make sure to check the label or product description to verify whether the bait is catered especially to woodchucks, or suited to trap nuisance animals in general.
Does Groundhog Bait Come With a Trap?
Baits and traps go hand-in-hand: when a person thinks of trapping a live animal, chances are that the thought of which type of bait to use isn’t far behind.
This, naturally, begs the question: are these two items sold together?
Almost all baits are sold separately from traps since the baits themselves are inexpensive while traps can be costly. However, it should be noted that baits work with almost every style of traps, including popular wire-mesh cages.
Why Use a Bait Over Natural Foods?
If woodchucks basically inhale all the fresh fruits and dandelion weeds they can get, it’s common sense to put these items in a trap, right?
Not necessarily. As it turns out, there are actually a few key reasons why it’s a better buy to go for a formulated bait when you’re trying to trap a woodchuck.
Are There Any Health Risks of Bait?
Baits have little to no health risks. Humans still should not eat any of the material, but it shouldn’t be toxic for people, groundhogs, or pets who might be curious.
If the label of a bait specifically says it is poisonous, do not place it anywhere that a pet like a cat or dog will eat it. Also, keep all baits away from children at all times.
What Makes a Bait Better Than Fruit?
Here’s the sad truth: while a groundhog will absolutely be much more attracted to a gorgeous array of strawberries nestled inside a trap, the likelihood that this animal will sniff them out in time is minimal.
Here’s a scenario that’s far more likely to happen: you set your trap full of strawberries, and you wait. And you wait. And you wait. Eventually, the strawberries begin to rot, staining your cage. You’ve wasted perfectly good fruit (you could’ve enjoyed those yourself!), and you’ve still got a groundhog on the loose. Nobody wins.
Bait, on the other hand, generally doesn’t expire in the elements. Because it’s synthesized and made from artificial materials, you can let it sit for as long as it takes for your groundhog to emerge from its burrow and fall victim to the trap.
Do Groundhog Baits Work?
In general, a professional bait will get the job done. More often than not, these are lab-tested, consumer-approved products that won’t blow away in the breeze or dry out in the sun.
However, if you’ve got a garden or lawn with lots of delicious plants like carrots and peas, then, unfortunately, the groundhog might not be tempted by a bait. If this is the case, use some of the food that the animal keeps decimating.
Top 3 Best Groundhog Baits
In the below section we break down each of our product recommendations in a little more detail.
C&S Sweet Corn Squirrel Logs
Groundhogs love sweet corn, and there’s nothing better than C&S Sweet Corn Squirrel Logs to bait your traps.
This sweet roll corn cob will quickly lure both groundhogs and squirrels for fast trapping, and it’s easy to use. Just break off a few small pieces from the cob. Then, carefully place it just beyond the trip plate for best results.
Watkins Vanilla Extract
Believe it or not, vanilla extract is an optimal bait for groundhogs because of its scent: the sweet-smelling aroma works just as well as a fruit concentrate. Another benefit of vanilla extract: it’s a breeze to apply to all kinds of traps, because its liquid form will easily coat any surface.
Watkins Vanilla Extract can be found all around the United States, and comes in bottles of 1-11 oz. It’s non-toxic and should not cause any harm to woodchucks, pets, or children who might be curious about its delicious smell.
The extract is relatively inexpensive and can be stored easily. We recommend it to people who want a change form regular groundhog baits and would like something simple and natural to use.
High Noon Groundhog Lure
The High Noon Groundhog Lure is a specially-made bait that can be applied to all types of traps. It is non-toxic for groundhogs and has been developed to smell like their favorite foods, enticing them out of their burrows and into your traps!
A 6-ounce container is inexpensive compared to its competitors, and this size should last you several uses. This lure, effectively, pays for itself: by purchasing a bottle at this size, you’ll be able to use it season after season.
Needless to say, this bait possesses a highly strong smell, but this should only attract woodchucks.
We recommend this product to people who specifically want to catch groundhogs and are looking to place something affordable in their groundhog traps.
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