Even though February 2nd is the day people talk about them the most, groundhogs are active from Spring to Fall during the early morning and afternoon hours. You might not realize they are on your property if you don’t know what to look for. Groundhogs are burrowing creatures, making holes typically around nine inches in diameter. A single burrow is likely attached to up to ten other burrows, creating a system of chambers. Some of these rooms are made for sleeping, storing food, going to the bathroom, and giving birth. They are very intelligent, solitary creatures, but they interact with others for many purposes, including creating their burrows, developing social relationships, and mating. Groundhogs use a range of sounds, such as whistling, to alert others of nearby predators, low barks, and a unique tooth-grinding noise to communicate with each other.

Groundhogs measure 16 to 27 inches on average, and their tails are short compared to other rodents. They have a voracious appetite when feeding and usually eat twice a day. While their food intake remains more or less constant, their metabolism changes before and after hibernating, as does their weight. Before going to sleep for the winter, they may weigh up to 14 pounds, and when they wake in the spring, they can be up to 6 pounds less.

Even though they may only be active for half of the year, that doesn’t mean groundhogs are welcome guests during that time. They are expert diggers, and it doesn’t matter to them if they’re digging through dirt or chewing through your house’s foundation. They can easily cause structural damage to wood. Electrical and water pipes are no match for the four huge incisor teeth, which are worn down about 1/16th of an inch per week from use. Throw in the curved, thick claws and strong limbs, and you have a lean, mean digging machine. Unlike some other rodents, their incisors are white, contrasted against their fur, ranging from gray to dark brown. 

Groundhogs can live in many different habitats, although human development has allowed for various feeding opportunities, such as unsecured garbage cans or litter. They tend to find their way from abandoned lots and pastures to cropland, orchards, and gardens, affecting the farm, livestock, and equipment operations. This poses problems beyond just a mess of the yard, as groundhogs are known spreaders of rabies and hepatitis and are carriers of parasites such as fleas and ticks.

Groundhogs may spend most of their time underground, but that doesn’t mean they won’t cause you surface-level headaches. From raided garbage cans to a ruined foundation and chewed-through electrical wires, these beasts can cause a lot of damage, especially if they’re given enough time to make their home. Luckily for residents of Monroe, Wayne and Ontario counties Patriot Wildlife has experts on standby, ready to tackle whatever wildlife problems nature has thrown your way. Contact us today for a plan to make your property critter-free as soon as possible.