Groundhogs, often playfully called woodchucks, are large rodents native to North America. While their exact population is difficult to estimate, they are widespread across the United States, particularly in the eastern and midwestern regions.
These creatures are most active during the spring and summer months, emerging from their burrows in search of food. Their diet primarily consists of vegetation, including grasses, clovers, alfalfa, and garden plants. An interesting fact about groundhogs is their hibernation habits.
Considered pests by gardeners, as they eat the vegetables and fruits before the gardener can pick them, groundhogs do play a role in the ecosystem. They help to aerate the soil through their burrowing activities, which benefits plant growth. Groundhogs also serve as prey for various predators, including coyotes, foxes, and hawks.
Fun Fact: Groundhogs can sleep for extended periods. This resulted in the midwest celebrating Groundhog Day, where a groundhog emerges to check for their shadow to predict the end of winter.
Signs of Groundhogs on Your Property
If you suspect groundhogs are making themselves at home on your property, there are a few signs to look for:
- Burrows: Groundhogs create extensive burrow systems, often with multiple entrances.
- Damage to vegetation: These critters can cause significant damage to gardens, lawns, and flower beds.
- Sightings: Observing a groundhog in your yard is a clear indication of their presence.
- Loose Dirt: If you find dirt that has been dug through and looks fresh, this may mean a groundhog was here.
Groundhog Breeding Season
Groundhog breeding typically occurs in early spring, shortly after they emerge from hibernation. Gestation lasts about a month, and litters usually consist of two to five pups. The young groundhogs emerge from the burrow a few weeks after birth and are weaned within a couple of months and able to go off on their own to establish a new den.
How to Make Your Property Less Inviting for Groundhogs
If groundhogs are causing problems on your property, there are several steps you can take to discourage them:
- Secure your garbage: Store garbage in airtight containers to prevent attracting groundhogs.
- Protect your garden: Install fencing or netting around your garden to deter groundhogs from accessing your plants.
- Remove attractants: Avoid leaving pet food or birdseed outdoors, as these can entice groundhogs.
- Burrow control: Fill in groundhog burrows with dirt and rocks to discourage them from returning.
- Repellents: There are various commercial repellents available, although their effectiveness can vary.
- Professional help: If groundhogs are causing significant damage or are difficult to control, consider contacting a wildlife removal professional.
How did Groundhogs Get Their Own Day?
If you have ever been in the Midwest or Northeast parts of the US, something strange happens on February 2nd, Groundhog Day! That’s right, it wasn’t just a made up thing for a movie in the 90’s!
There is actually an event where a groundhog is brought out to look for it’s shadow and determine if there will be 6 more weeks of winter or not. This tradition dates back to the 1800’s when Pennsylvania Dutch brought the tradition from Germany and switched from a badger to a groundhog.
Conclusion
Groundhogs are a nuisance to homeowners and farmers as they dig destructive holes in the yard and eat plants including crops. Given this, management of the groundhog population and removal of groundhogs is required to avoid unnecessary damage. If you would like to coexist with groundhogs on your property, you will need to commit to a disciplined program that manages their access to important places and uses multiple methods of exclusion. Prickly Pear is standing by to help you with the exclusions that actually improve the situation.
Fun Fact: How much wood, would a woodchuck chuck, if a woodchuck could chuck wood?