Marion Animal Care & Control shares best practices when dealing with unwelcome critters on your property such as groundhogs, raccoons, and opossoms.
Animal Care and Control Shelter Manager Brittney Shrout says trapping is the most effective method of removal.
For those who do not have a trap, MACC offers loaner traps for a $50 rental fee, which covers any potential issues or damage. To borrow a trap, please stop by MACC (1021 SR 18, Marion, IN) any time from 9am-5pm Tuesday through Friday, and they will add you to the list upon receipt of a trap request form.
Alternatively, traps may be purchased at local stores such as Runnings or Tractor Supply, which typically range in price from $60 to $70.
To effectively bait a trap, groundhogs are herbivores and have a preference for plants such as soybeans, clover, alfalfa, grass, tomatoes, melons, cucumbers, zucchini, and corn. Raccoons eat nearly any available food, including fruits, nuts, corn, fish, frogs, insects, bird eggs, rodents, and dead animals. Opossums are omnivores and eat a variety of plant matter, fruits, seeds, grains, insects, earthworms, birds, and frogs.
For those who prefer not to deal with the situation themselves, there are professional wildlife control services available:
- Critter Control, 765.453.4803
- Total Wildlife Control, 765.524.0228
- Marion Wildlife Control, 765.212.3541
Any questions may be addressed by Brittney Shrout at 765.668.4491 or bshrout@cityofmarion.in.gov.
