Yesterday morning when I went out to put the bird feeders out, we have to take then in at night now because of the bears, I got a huge surprise, there was a yellow-bellied marmot sitting on the wood pile, this is big trouble, they dig burrows and tunnels, they eat everything in site. I chased it away several times during the day.

Anyone have any ideas as to how I can keep it away.

Yellow-bellied Marmot

Margaret, any new news on the critter? You are going to need a trap!

Rita, I saw my neighbor checking the area Thursday afternoon so I think it is still hanging around, I haven't had a chance to talk with him yet. I looked over the fence on the hillside yesterday and there was no sign of any digging, I still have to check the hillside on my side. I am hoping the dogs on either side will discourage it from hanging around.

Well, the dogs haven't been able to chase it off yet. That is not a good sign. You would think that with the dogs present it would move on.

Presently we have three dogs and the resident groundhogs outnumber them by at least 3-1. We've tried live-trapping, but they never go in it. People working in the yard and dogs barking nearby don't seem to bother them much at all. They know where their safety zones are, and are almost never caught too far away from them.

We're going to be forced to use harsher measures soon as I found one yesterday trying to burrow under our house. That's just not going to happen.

Yesterday's tasty treats included my Rudbeckia 'Chim Chiminee' seedlings.

I have more animal deterrent ordered, but I need it now!

I really hope yours decides to move on, Margaret, and doesn't nest in your yard.

Chelle, that is not good at all, sorry you lost your plants to those critters. And of course you can't let them burrow under your house, harsher measures are needed for sure. What are the harsher measures in case I need them?

We're out in the country, so shooting rodents is standard practice in this area. I can't do it, but one of the fellas here will when absolutely necessary.

The base of those seedlings is still there, so I'm hoping they'll recover. They're not planted out yet so I've covered their container with screen until the Plantskydd order comes in. This product seems to work perfectly for animal control here -I haven't lost anything in the treated areas yet.

If your critter does decide to move in and stay you might try it.

We live in town so no shooting them. I am going to get the Plantdkyd and spray it around the area it was seen in as a preventive measure.

Hope your seedlings recover.

The spray works great but stains light colored plants, so I'm trying the granules this time.

So what happened Margret. Did the marmot win?

@Gleni Thankfully no, the neighbors dog chased it a couple of times and scared it off.