Free inspection. Burrows cleared, yard protected for good.
Searching for humane groundhog removal or a team that actually fixes the burrow, not just the sighting? We serve Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Vaughan, Markham, Scarborough, North York, and Etobicoke.
Groundhog removal Toronto families call us with one goal: get the burrow handled properly, not just the animal you happened to see. GTA Pest Solutions provides humane groundhog and chipmunk removal across the Greater Toronto Area, Ontario, Canada.
A burrow under a shed or a hollow spot near a foundation isn’t just a nuisance. It’s a structural risk that gets worse the longer it sits. We inspect, confirm the species, and remove the animal humanely before treating the burrow itself so the problem doesn’t just move a few feet over.
Whether it’s a single groundhog under a deck or a colony of chipmunks working through a garden bed, every job gets the same careful approach. See real jobs we’ve completed in our Case Studies.
Found a fresh hole near your foundation or shed?
Correct groundhog removal Toronto starts with knowing which animal you’re actually dealing with.
Groundhog/woodchuck (Marmota monax) and Eastern chipmunk (Tamias striatus) both dig burrows, but they don’t look, act, or damage property the same way.
| Comparison | Groundhog (Woodchuck) | Eastern Chipmunk |
|---|---|---|
| 📏 Size | Large, 8 to 10 lbs, cat-sized. | Small, palm-sized. |
| 🕳 Burrow Entrance | Wide, 20–30 cm, with a visible dirt mound. | Narrow, about 5 cm, with no visible dirt mound. |
| 🌱 Why No Dirt Pile | N/A, digs and pushes soil out of the burrow. | Carries soil away in cheek pouches to hide the den entrance. |
| 📍 Common Spot | Under sheds, decks, foundations, and porches. | Near foundations, gardens, wood piles, tree stumps, and landscaping. |
| ⚠ Main Damage | Structural undermining, burrow collapse, and large holes in lawns. | Lawn tunnelling, damage to flower bulbs, roots, and vegetable gardens. |
That missing dirt pile is the single most reliable way to tell a chipmunk in foundation case apart from a groundhog burrow at a glance.
Not sure which one dug that hole?
A groundhog burrow isn’t a simple hole. Entrances run 20 to 30 centimeters wide and can extend nearly 2 metres deep and up to 10 meters long, often with multiple exits. When that network runs under a shed, deck, or foundation footing, it can genuinely undermine what’s sitting on top of it.
A groundhog under a shed is one of the most common calls we get, and it’s rarely just one animal. Groundhogs typically have a single litter of 4 to 5 young each spring, so an unaddressed burrow in April often means a bigger problem by summer.
Hollow ground near a shed or patio?
Chipmunks are quieter and more secretive than groundhogs, which is exactly what makes them frustrating. Their burrow entrances are deliberately clean: no dirt pile, no obvious mound. They carry excavated soil away in their cheek pouches to avoid drawing attention from predators.
That doesn’t mean they’re harmless. Chipmunk damage to lawns shows up as tunneling that undermines root systems. Colonies working along a foundation line can eventually contribute to settling and cracking over time.
Hearing a sharp “chip-chip” sound in the yard?
It’s the most common DIY move, and it’s almost never the fix people hope for. If an animal is still using the burrow, filling the entrance just means it digs itself back out, often within a day.
There’s a second problem too. A vacant burrow left unfilled doesn’t stay empty for long. Rabbits, skunks, and other wildlife regularly move into abandoned groundhog burrows, which is why proper burrow exclusion after removal matters as much as the removal itself.
Already tried filling it in yourself?
Under Ontario’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act , relocated wildlife generally can’t be moved more than one kilometer from where it was captured. That applies to groundhogs and chipmunks the same way it applies to raccoons and squirrels. It’s why trapping alone, without addressing the burrow and entry points, rarely solves the problem long-term.
Thinking about a trap-and-release yourself?
Like most burrowing wildlife, groundhogs and chipmunks can carry fleas, ticks, and internal parasites. An active burrow close to a home or a play area is worth taking seriously for this reason alone, separate from the structural concerns.
Kids or pets play near the affected area?
Every groundhog removal Toronto job follows the same five steps:
We confirm which animal is involved and map every active burrow entrance on the property.
Our professionals use live traps to capture and relocate the animal humanely.
The vacated burrow is treated and collapsed to prevent reuse by the same or a different animal.
Where needed, buried mesh barriers are installed along foundations, sheds, and decks to stop new digging.
We confirm no new activity has started before closing the job.
Ready to get it handled properly?
Most single-animal jobs, one groundhog under a shed, are resolved within a few days to a week once trapping begins.
Chipmunk colonies can take slightly longer, since more than one animal is often involved and burrow systems tend to be more extensive than they first appear. Your technician gives you a realistic estimate after the initial inspection, not before.
Want a timeline for your specific yard?
Before you search for bird control Toronto companies, here’s an honest look at what you can handle yourself:
reasonable to monitor and fill once you’re certain it’s vacant.
worth a professional look, since the risk is structural, not just cosmetic.
you see multiple burrow entrances, hear ongoing activity, or the hole keeps reopening after you fill it.
Filled it in already, and it came back?
For over 10+ years, GTA Pest Solutions has handled groundhog removal in Toronto and chipmunk jobs across the region. Guarantee terms, licensing details, and past customer feedback are documented on our Guarantee page, credentials are listed under Licensing & Certifications , and past feedback is on Reviews .
Ready for a fix that actually holds?
Ready to stop the digging for good?
A licensed technician will confirm the species, map the burrow, and give you a firm price before any work starts.
Cost depends on the number of burrows, the animal involved, and whether exclusion barriers are needed. A free inspection is how we land on a firm number rather than guessing over the phone.
A wide burrow entrance with a visible dirt mound almost always points to a groundhog. A narrow, clean entrance with no dirt pile is more likely a chipmunk. Send us a photo if you’re not sure.
Not safely if the animal is still using it. It will usually dig itself back out within a day, and an unaddressed vacant burrow often gets claimed by a different animal. See humane groundhog removal above for why treatment matters as much as filling.
It can, especially when tunnels run directly beneath a footing, shed base, or patio slab. The risk grows the longer an active burrow goes unaddressed.
Yes. Our groundhog control GTA coverage extends across the surrounding cities we service, with the same inspection-first approach.
Live trapping is the standard method for chipmunk removal Toronto jobs. Animals are captured humanely, and the burrow is treated once they’re confirmed clear.
Usually, yes. We cover Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, and the rest of the GTA with fast response times.
Whether you’re hearing squeaking at dusk or you’ve already found droppings on a windowsill, our licensed technicians are ready to help with fast, humane, and guaranteed bat removal Toronto and the entire GTA can rely on.
Ready to get on the schedule?
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