How do you support concrete... after wood chucks dig out all the sand?

[Pullstart 62,878]

As the title says... a big ‘ole woodchuck den was found today.  After I shot said creature with my personal carry piece, it disappeared into the hole (It was in the shadows and just the muzzle was exposed... I hope it went inside to die but then again I hope it doesn’t stink my shop up for days!), then I filled the holes with my boot to trap it in... and also to use as a sign if it crawls out.  I know the amount of sand on the ground means this hole is massive and I’m concerned that the concrete will cave in if it’s not supported before being driven over.  Any thoughts or ideas?

[Achto 27,575]

Have someone come in with a mud pump to fill the cavity. There is also a product called Polylevel that can be used to jack up concrete or fill holes under concrete.

Edited May 6, 2021 by Achto

[Pullstart 62,878]

Is that “mud jacking” Dan?

[Achto 27,575]

2 minutes ago, pullstart said:

Is that “mud jacking” Dan?

 

Yes. If you find someone in your area that does mud jacking, they should be able to take care of your issue.

[Herder 2,354]

First things first, there may be more.  Females live in the den with young, males don't.  You may have a more than one.    Time for the gas off a running vehicle.  Nighty night!!      

[Pullstart 62,878]

1 minute ago, Herder said:

First things first, there may be more.  Females live in the den with young, males don't.  You may have a more than one.    Time for the gas off a running vehicle.  Nighty night!!      

I figure if the hole is torn up, that’ll be a sign of more.  Then I’ll stick a pipe off something potent in there and let them sniff some 4 stroke.

[Handy Don 12,230]

Most common technique is to drill one or more holes in the slab, thread nozzles into them and then pump in concrete, cement, or grout (depending on the soil and under-slab water situation). The applied pressure can be pretty significant and by using several injection points and managing the pressures, this is often used here in the Northeast to re-level patios or other outdoor and indoor slabs that have tilted due to subsidence or erosion.

In your case, they may want to explore with a long-arm inspection camera to see the extent of the den and if they can get adequate reach, just do it from outside without extra pressure using a mud pump and hose. The thickness of your slab matters, too.

[roadapples 6,983]

15 minutes ago, pullstart said:

Is that “mud jacking” Dan?

Just don't upset it...

[Pullstart 62,878]

Thanks guys!  Remember there is no visual concrete damage for the time being... if that changes anything I don’t know.

[WHX?? 48,815]

If it's sand just do like I do and wash it with water back in.  Drilling a small "vent" hole  over the top helps but I didn't want to wreck my side walk. Only works if you have sandy soil.

I would have fished the offending rodent out and gave him a proper burial elsewhere  tho. 

[Pullstart 62,878]

It is pure sand, Uncle Jim.  I might try that and see how well I can pack it in.

[stevasaurus 22,740]

That's what I don't like about slabs...critters love to burrow underneath.  I'll take a footing 3' down any day.  Believe me, it is worth the extra cost.  

[Pullstart 62,878]

Well, news.  One hole is opened back up fully and the other enough to breath from.  Tonight, I’ll give it some gas treatment from a select tailpipe.

[stevasaurus 22,740]

It's not their fault...

   

 

     SAVE THE GROUND HOGS

[rjg854 11,361]

20 minutes ago, stevasaurus said:

It's not their fault...

   

 

     SAVE THE GROUND HOGS

for target practice 

[Pullstart 62,878]

I’ve been tempted to BBQ one some day...  

[953 nut 55,229]

                 I've heard that ground hog bones make excellent back fill material.  Takes a lot of them though!          

[Jeff-C175 7,202]

6 hours ago, pullstart said:

I filled the holes with my boot to trap it in...

 

Silly boy!  You can't trap groundhogs in a boot!  

 

Edited May 6, 2021 by Jeff-C175

[Jeff-C175 7,202]

1 hour ago, pullstart said:

I’ve been tempted to BBQ one some day...  

 

You most certainly can eat them but dressing the thing out is a royal pain!  And they are a bit greeezy... When you dress it, make sure to remove them scent glands!

 

I recommend a slow cooker or a stew pot.

 

Soak the meat in half and half vinegar and water in the fridge for a day.

 

'Whistle Pig' shish kabobs on the grill are awesome!

 

Edited May 6, 2021 by Jeff-C175

[DennisThornton 4,769]

I lost a lot of my corn crop to a ground hog so I figured I'd get something back from all that corn by eating him.  Slow cooked for hours and it was tasty but chewy.  So I pressure cooked it and it was still tasty and still chewy.  Never did get tender but there was never anything wrong with the taste of that corn fed ground hog.

[Pullstart 62,878]

2 hours ago, Jeff-C175 said:

 

You most certainly can eat them but dressing the thing out is a royal pain!  And they are a bit greeezy... When you dress it, make sure to remove them scent glands!

 

I recommend a slow cooker or a stew pot.

 

Soak the meat in half and half vinegar and water in the fridge for a day.

 

'Whistle Pig' shish kabobs on the grill are awesome!

 

 

10 minutes ago, DennisThornton said:

I lost a lot of my corn crop to a ground hog so I figured I'd get something back from all that corn by eating him.  Slow cooked for hours and it was tasty but chewy.  So I pressure cooked it and it was still tasty and still chewy.  Never did get tender but there was never anything wrong with the taste of that corn fed ground hog.

 

what about an electric smoker?

[DennisThornton 4,769]

Maybe smoking would help.  Flavor was fine!  Just never got tender.  Normally a slow moist cook will soften red oak, but maybe I should have cooked it for days...

[Jeff-C175 7,202]

18 minutes ago, pullstart said:

smoker?

 

Toker, midnight joker...

 

ANYthing smoked is good!

 

Dennis, you probably got a tough old one!  

[DennisThornton 4,769]

1 minute ago, Jeff-C175 said:

 

Toker, midnight joker...

 

ANYthing smoked is good!

 

Dennis, you probably got a tough old one!  

Perhaps old.  Definitely tough!

[Pullstart 62,878]

Gee, maybe we’ll have to move this thread to the recipes section