Dealing with groundhogs and possums in Norristown

[TunedDownGuitar]

Fellow Norristowners,

I'm in Norristown and have been a resident for 5 years. It's only become a true issue in the past month that there are a lot of pests in both my yard and my mothers yard. She had a groundhog actually advance on her (not just stand his ground) a few weeks ago.

Now, I'm well versed in the borough code on Firearms, which says that:

[Adopted 4-6-1982 as Ch. 109 of the 1981 Code]
§ 155-1
Discharge prohibited.
It shall be unlawful for any person within the Borough limits to propel, fire or discharge any rifle, air gun, pistol, spring gun, bow and arrow, shotgun or any implement which impels or propels with force a pellet or projectile of any kind.

Now, there is one exception to this ruling:

§ 155-3
Exceptions.
The Borough Council, by resolution, may from time to time authorize persons, at specific times and places and for specific purposes, to use firearms in the Borough of Norristown.

Does anybody have experience requesting the borough council to give permission to discharge an air rifle to dispatch possums and groundhogs? I spoke to a police officer earlier today on the street and he said "You'd probably be fine with an air rifle", but I don't want to take the risk of having the SWAT team kick in my door because a neighbor saw me with a crossman picking off a groundhog.


I have a feeling that even asking may bring negative attention, so I'm looking for any advice on how to handle them. On the topic of trapping them, the last time we did that we caught a skunk.

I'm also looking for a way to handle this without paying for an exterminator to deal with them.

[jpg5080]

Asking permission from the council is probably just a waste of your time. I personally would not go on an LEO's advice that "you'd probably be fine with an air rifle", as well as the fact that you need a perfect shot for an air rifle to be effective. I think trapping is your best bet. Sure you will catch some other pests as well, but you don't have to worry about legal issues.

You could also look into poisons, but I am not sure if those are also regulated in the borough; my grandpa mentioned some sort of poison peanuts, don't remember the brand. Rat poison may also do the trick in the right amount.

If getting a dog is a feasible option that is another option. Neighbors on both sides of me have groundhog issues but the groundhogs avoid my yard like the plague, my chocolate lab would love to have the chance to chase them.

[TunedDownGuitar]

Asking permission from the council is probably just a waste of your time. I personally would not go on an LEO's advice that "you'd probably be fine with an air rifle", as well as the fact that you need a perfect shot for an air rifle to be effective. I think trapping is your best bet. Sure you will catch some other pests as well, but you don't have to worry about legal issues.

You could also look into poisons, but I am not sure if those are also regulated in the borough; my grandpa mentioned some sort of poison peanuts, don't remember the brand. Rat poison may also do the trick in the right amount.

If getting a dog is a feasible option that is another option. Neighbors on both sides of me have groundhog issues but the groundhogs avoid my yard like the plague, my chocolate lab would love to have the chance to chase them.

Thank you for the advice.

I absolutely would not take their advice to use an air rifle. I don't want any unnecessary police attention.

Trapping and poisons may be an option, I'll explore that. A dog won't be since the yard isn't fenced in. The main concern about the groundhog at my mothers is that they are known to stand their ground and grit their teeth, but not advance on you. It actually advanced on her, so I'm concerned it may be rabid.

I'm going to advise her to keep a bat or shovel nearby when she's working outside, and that little bugger better hope I'm not over at her house helping her in the yard when it comes out looking for a fight.

[Sparxfly72]

If getting a dog is a feasible option that is another option. Neighbors on both sides of me have groundhog issues but the groundhogs avoid my yard like the plague, my chocolate lab would love to have the chance to chase them.

If you're smart, you'll keep that chocolate lab from chasing any groundhog. Groundhogs have very sharp teeth and a dog's ear will bleed like you won't believe. GH's will run for their hole, but dogs normally cut them off at the pass, THIS is where they(the dogs) get hurt as a trapped GH is dangerous. Do as you please, but you've been warned.

[Bill67]

I shot one close range with a pellet gun a few years back and I swear he laughed at me. When he ran into his hole, I dropped a large flat rock over the secondary hole and poured a gallon of bleach down the main hole. Another rock and the stinker was done.

[ronbo1012]

It isn't really the most humane, so you decide, I knew a guy who ran a golf course who used bubblegum. He would chew several pieces and get a pretty good size wad. When the groundhog would eat it, it would not pass through the digestive system and the animal would die.
Melon rinds and a Havahart trap always worked well for me. Same trap with hardboiled eggs for bait for possums and skunks.
Good Luck

[Shodan]

This, if you know where the holes are.



I would think the likelyhood of catching a cat or dog by mistake would be minimal since there isn't any bait.

I know you don't want to catch a skunk, but a box trap would probably be most effective.

I like to shoot first, trap second too so hopefully you get a trustworthy answer to the air gun question.

[rovert97]

Trapping is your best option. But I much more prefer a crossbow for closer shots. A VMax .223 at anything closer than 30 yards leaves a bit of a mess.

[BenP]

Trapping is your best option. But I much more prefer a crossbow for closer shots. A VMax .223 at anything closer than 30 yards leaves a bit of a mess.

A trap is definitely your best bet. You would probably have trouble getting permission from our council to discharge a water gun.

[Toxicodendron11]

A suppressed .22.