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Groundhog Fence. Wholesale direct DIY groundhog fencing, keep woodchucks out

Groundhog Fence Rolls & Parts

This page explains groundhog fences and will compare different groundhog fence kits. Don't need a complete groundhog fence with posts? Here are three quick links to take you directly to fence rolls and other parts:

Groundhog Fencing Comparison

Groundhog fencing is a type of fence engineered to keep out groundhogs or to keep out woodchucks. Groundhogs are also known as woodchucks. Typical applications include:

  • Preventing groundhog access (keeping them from going under or into an area like a deck, barn or shed) or as dig prevention on an existing fence
  • Surrounding an area like a garden where groundhogs will eat your vegetables Adding a rodent barrier for groundhog protection to an existing fence (like a deer fence). Groundhogs are excellent diggers and can also climb.

Surrounding the complete perimeter of an area (along a complete property line) – this can include wide driveway gates to protect driveways

A groundhog fence kit is a selection of fencing, fence posts, accessories and hardware to build a complete fence to keep out groundhogs when starting from nothing.

Our groundhog fences are not electric and cannot fail due to broken wires, dead batteries, etc. They are engineered to keep out many different animals besides groundhogs, depending on the options you choose. They also make great pet fences to keep in dogs and other animals. We do have real physical electric poly fences (as opposed to single strand electric groundhog fences) for specific applications. 

There are 1000+ fence kits, combinations and options within each of these types of woodchuck fences.

The purpose of this page is to help you compare the choices to best select the groundhog fence or woodchuck fence you need for your project.

In general, most customers with groundhog issues select:

  • A groundhog fence with overlap. This type of woodchuck fence includes extra fencing overlapped and staked to the ground to the outside of the area. This acts as a dig deterrent and covers small ups and downs in your landscape groundhogs can use for entry. Groundhogs will use their noses to try and push up the base of a fence or to try to dig down under your fence for access. This type of groundhog fence with overlap is a roll of fence installed at a specific height, leaving additional inches or footage (6-12 inches typical) overlapped and pinned to the ground facing outside.
  • A poly groundhog fence with a chew barrier base. Deer don’t chew and poly fence has properties that make it a great deer fence. Poly deer fence doesn’t have memory (if it’s hit it returns to it’s original shape unlike metal that once bent stays bent) and it’s hard to climb. Poly deer fence is also lightweight, very strong and inexpensive. The issue with poly fence is chewing; even the strongest poly fence is not chew proof. The most popular type of fence for a garden includes a poly fence paired with a metal rodent barrier base. In general, the same bottom wire fence used to keep out groundhogs will also keep out rabbits and other garden pests. The post popular garden configuration to keep out groundhogs (and other animals) would be a 7 ½ foot finished height poly fence in 700 poly paired with a 4ft 1x1 black steel bottom wire, installed at 40 inches tall leaving 8 inches of overlap. The overlap is flexibile – for example, you could install the 4ft bottom wire at 36” tall leaving 12 inches of overlap.
  • 36-48” tall. The minimum suggested height to keep out groundhogs as a chew barrier base is 36 inches / 48 inches when used on top of another fence. As a stand alone fence you should note that groundhogs can and will climb and a 36 to 48 inch tall fence by itself may not keep out groundhogs.

Below are our groundhog fence kits separated by type:

Groundhog Fencing Information

There are a few different groundhog fence options on the market. If you have a need to create a fence to keep groundhogs out of an area, our fence is for you.

Here’s why:

  • Our groundhog fencing is effective but nearly invisible from a distance. It's engineered to be as invisible as possible, to blend in with your existing landscape. This is very important for deer; deer don’t have great eyesight and have trouble judging height. The less visible the fence the less likely deer will try and jump it. A good example of a bad deer fence, for example, is a chain link fence with a top rail. The very visible top bar on a chain link fence is a great jumping benchmark for deer to clear.
  • We don't sell single strand electric fence, there are no wires to break, no parts to fail over time. A real actual physical barrier to keep groundhogs out. We do offer a poly electric fence option if needed for your application. 
  • Our fences to keep animals out are customizable. Choose the right strength, height, chew resistance, opening size and more for your project. This includes groundhog fence gates from 3 feet wide to 24 feet wide, thicker corner posts/end posts if applicable, tensioning for your woodchuck fence and more. Since 1992 we have been supplying the largest selection of animal fence products on the market.
  • Renting? Need a temporary groundhog fence or seasonal groundhog fence? All of our fences with ground sleeves can be installed permanently or made removable if needed. Use included locking set screws to release our fence posts. A good example would be installing a fence for the growing season then taking it down after the season is over.
  • We make our groundhog fences quick and easy to install. Using patent pending ground sleeves for regular posts and gates and large ground sleeves for corner posts and driveway gates no concrete footings are needed. Posts are secured with a locking set screw inside each sleeve. Large areas can be installed in a fraction of the time it would take for conventional fencing. Most customers install this type of fence themselves without contractors.

Groundhog Fence Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best groundhog fence?
The best type of groundhog fence is strong enough to keep groundhogs out without hurting them or getting them or other animals caught in the fence. This is usually a poly or metal combination groundhog fence with a 2 inch or smaller opening size, overlapped and staked to the ground facing outside 6 to 12 inches.
How do I build a groundhog fence?
Groundhog fences are made of support posts, rolls of fencing material and hardware. Ground sleeves are first driven into the ground with a sledge hammer, posts then slide in the ground sleeves and secure with locking set screws. Fencing material is either attached to the posts directly with fence ties or attached to tension cable which offers additional support. Groundhog fences can be buried at the bottom of the fence or overlapped and pinned to the ground with stakes to prevent groundhogs from pushing up under the fence.
What is the easiest groundhog fence to install?
The easiest groundhog fence to install uses ground sleeves. Ground sleeves are first driven into the ground with a sledge hammer, posts then slide in the ground sleeves and secured with a locking set screw. The posts can be permanent or removable. Groundhog fences with tensioning are not removable. It’s easier to remove a groundhog fence without overlap, than one with overlap, but be advised groundhog fence without overlap does not prevent digging underneath.
What is a groundhog fence made out of?
Groundhog fence is usually made out of black PVC coated galvanized steel or a combination fence of polypropylene and metal. Here’s some information on each:
  • Polypropylene plastic groundhog fence: Small opening size 3/4"-1" to larger 2" opening size carbon black fence mesh is available in different opening sizes and strengths. This mesh is black to inhibit breakdown from UV rays and different types of this mesh will have different longevity outdoors in sunlight; as little as 3 years to as much as 25 years. It can consist of all virgin polypropylene or a small percentage of recycled material. The black color also makes this mesh not very visible. This type of groundhog fence does not rust with water or salt water exposure. The larger 1 3/4 to 2" opening size can be used as a physical barrier and can range from 400 pounds of breaking strength per square foot up to 1400 pounds of breaking strength per square foot. The higher strength versions of this poly groundhog fencing can repel any size deer running at any speed (most customers needing to keep out groundhogs also need to keep out deer). A poly fence by itself without a chew barrier is not recommended as a stand alone fence to keep out groundhogs. 
  • Metal groundhog fence: Small to large opening size wire fence of various thicknesses and strengths. This wire fence can be welded or woven. Woven wire is bent into shapes by a machine and can be knotted like traditional field fence or twisted like traditional hex type mesh (chicken wire). Metal groundhog fence can be plain galvanized or galvanized painted black or galvanized then black vinyl coated. Galvanization can be before weaving or welding or after welding or weaving (in galvanized after welding/weaving the welded joints are also covered with zinc for the best rust resistance). Some more common knotted metal fixed knot fence is graduated with smaller opening size 2"x4" wire spacing at the bottom to larger 4" opening size wire spacing at the top (not suitable to keep out groundhogs, they will climb through 4x4 openings). Metal groundhog fence is very strong and can range from 800 pounds of breaking strength for the woven wire hex (chicken wire) types to over 2000 pounds of breaking strength per square foot for some of the welded wire types. 1"x1" metal or smaller can also be used as a chew barrier or rodent barrier at the base of a poly deer fence. In general, most customers choose a 1x1 black PVC coated metal fence to exclude groundhogs. Some customers choose the 2x2 black PVC coated metal fence or the 2x4. 
How tall does a groundhog fence need to be?
A groundhog fence needs to be 6 feet tall to keep groundhogs from climbing up and over. In most scenarios groundhogs will tire and give up before climbing up to 6 feet tall. Some gardeners with extreme groundhog issues may need to install a taller fence.
How tall does a rodent barrier need to be to keep out groundhogs?
36 to 48 inches tall. Groundhogs are large rodents with sharp teeth. Rodent barriers are typically installed 36 to 48 inches in height with additional fencing overlapped and pinned to the ground facing outside to prevent digging under the fence.
What is an electric groundhog fence?
Electric groundhog fence is a fence consisting of electrically charged wires with the intent of shocking groundhogs to scare them away. This type of electric fence can be more expensive than conventional groundhog fence and more difficult to install & maintain. Wild animals like groundhogs are likely to move into strands of electric fence by accident; once the strands are broken the electric fence system is down and needs to be repaired. Electric fence is great for domestic farm animals like goats for example. You can bring a goat up to an electric fence to shock them once and they will never go up to that electric fence again. Wild animals are different; a traditional (not electric) animal fence is recommended for wild animals.
Can groundhogs crawl under a fence?
Groundhogs can without a doubt crawl under a fence! This is a primary characteristic of groundhogs / woodchucks. They can and will dig under a fence. To protect against digging, additional fencing is buried in the ground or overlapped and staked to the ground using ground stakes. 
How much does groundhog fence cost?
Groundhog fence will range in price from $1 a foot to $10 a foot or more depending on the width and type of groundhog fence and if you are purchasing rolls of groundhog fence only or a complete groundhog fence kit. Rolls of polypropylene groundhog fencing will cost less than all metal groundhog fence.
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