quote "Having an issue with animal(s) in my garden. A ground hog took up residence in a burrow just outside my garden. So last week I believe I took care of the burrow. There are no signs at the borrow entrances. I found two and I blocked them off, no new signs that he burrowed our elsewhere. One exit was in my garden and was certain he was eating my bounty. The garden is surrounded by an 18 inch electric fence. Five days later, went away for the weekend, came back and my acorn squash is being decimated, whatever it is is eating all the leaves. So do you think it's still the ground hog or is it deer? Thoughts?"I doubt an 18" electric fence will stop anything more than an unsuspecting dog. Not sure what you mean by "took care of" but I will say that my experience is they will remove or tunnel around any obstructions. They certainly won't suffocate. Also they usu. have families meaning there is more than one. They sell smoke bombs to use in their tunnels best used after sundown as they will be in there. I know Home Depot sells them but not at every store, so ask, or check with a garden center. I usu put a board or something over the hole to see if it was moved. Filling in the holes does help to keep other rodents from moving in and helps you to realize when they have returned. Maybe not until next spring but you can be sure some long lost cousin will find this residence next spring. I grow broccoli so I can tell when another has arrived. I get another every other year it seems and have found the holes in new and diff locations. I am sure the tunnels are connected tho. They do dig awfully fast. HTH

We are having a wonderful spring day. It's currently 75 degrees and I've been pulling dandelions, which are in full bloom of course! *sigh* We still have a few more weeks with the potential for cold temperatures but it sure does feel like spring is in the air. I've been tryin to figure out where to plant the veggies I have in mind for this years attempt at a veggie garden. I think I've found the perfect spot to put in lettuce and spinach next weekend. Here's hoping the bunnies don't see it and view it as an all you can eat buffet! Marilyn

I had ONE groundhog and it pretty much annihilated my garden. Some of the perennials it ate didn't come back until the following year. I tried everything, including stuffing dog-doo into its burrow! but the thing just kept coming back to that great big salad bar in my garden. On day I was so angry that I ran after it with a big stick. I swear I would have hit it if I had caught up with it. I finally trapped it, using cabbage and my lone remaining sunflower, and relocated it. Boy was it p.o'd ! It also stunk up my car for days. Luckily I put a tarp under the trap. If you're relocating, put it in a dry area where it can burrow, do it now so it can make a nest before winter. Don't relocate near other people's gardens or where there are horses or cows (the burrow holes will break the legs of animals stepping into them).

I have a stuffed "Marmot" that we got in Colorado one year. He is a cute little feller', with big front teeth and brown "frosted" hair!! I have a ledge on the front of my desk, so I always have him sitting there...leaning against a pile of "angel hair" snow, and offering a big bowl of Chex Mix and "rock" candy!! No-one can come into or go out of our offices without a big smile on their faces!!!!!