Fun Facts:
Groundhogs also known as Woodchucks and Whistle-pigs will whistle loudly when threatened.
They usually have two dens. One den in the summer is near food sources, and the other one is more protective for winter.
Their paws are usually black or dark brown, but one subspecies has pink paws!
Groundhogs eat twice a day in the summer, for no more than 2 hours each time.
They also seem to enjoy sunning themselves midday in the summer.
Groundhogs aren't very social, but will sometimes greet each other by touching noses.
They have rounded ears that can actually close off the ear canal to keep dirt out when digging and burrowing!
They usually have two dens. One den in the summer is near food sources, and the other one is more protective for winter.
Their paws are usually black or dark brown, but one subspecies has pink paws!
Groundhogs eat twice a day in the summer, for no more than 2 hours each time.
They also seem to enjoy sunning themselves midday in the summer.
Groundhogs aren't very social, but will sometimes greet each other by touching noses.
They have rounded ears that can actually close off the ear canal to keep dirt out when digging and burrowing!
Benefits:
A lot of species use abandoned groundhog dens! This includes creatures such as rabbits, skunks, foxes, otters, chipmunks, opossums, mice, lizards, snakes and more!
They are tasty prey for a lot of predators that count on them as a food source.
Groundhogs have provided a lot of information that helps humans in biomedical research, especially about Hepatitis and liver cancer.
They are tasty prey for a lot of predators that count on them as a food source.
Groundhogs have provided a lot of information that helps humans in biomedical research, especially about Hepatitis and liver cancer.
Challenges:
They can carry some parasites, fleas, ticks, and lice.
Groundhogs can destroy gardens and agricultural crops.
Their burrows can damage building foundations and farm equipment.
Groundhogs can destroy gardens and agricultural crops.
Their burrows can damage building foundations and farm equipment.
Tips for living alongside them:
If you must evict them, do so during mid- to late summer, otherwise they can be very difficult to evict due to females refusing to abandon their young.
At first, plug burrow entrances loosely with newspaper or grass clippings for 3-5 days to be sure the borrow is vacant. Then, using fencing wire, cover and bury it over burrow entrances.
If the burrow is not vacant, harass them by partially digging out the entrance, put harmless but strong odor items such as urine-saturated cat litter just inside the entrance, and then loosely seal the entrance to keep the smell in.
Protect gardens with 3 foot fencing, and an L-footer base to keep them from digging.
Use scare devices such as a silver mylar balloon tied to something in the garden.
At first, plug burrow entrances loosely with newspaper or grass clippings for 3-5 days to be sure the borrow is vacant. Then, using fencing wire, cover and bury it over burrow entrances.
If the burrow is not vacant, harass them by partially digging out the entrance, put harmless but strong odor items such as urine-saturated cat litter just inside the entrance, and then loosely seal the entrance to keep the smell in.
Protect gardens with 3 foot fencing, and an L-footer base to keep them from digging.
Use scare devices such as a silver mylar balloon tied to something in the garden.
range and habitat
Their range extends throughout much of the Eastern half of the United States and up through Canada.
They prefer fields, pastures, woodlots and forests as habitat.
They prefer fields, pastures, woodlots and forests as habitat.
sources
Harrington, M. What a woodchuck could chuck. Lab Anim 43, 117 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/laban.516
What to do about woodchucks. The Humane Society of the United States. https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/what-do-about-woodchucks
What to do about woodchucks. The Humane Society of the United States. https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/what-do-about-woodchucks