Groundhog Facts

Here Are Downriver Pest Control's Top 6 Facts About Groundhogs

1. Skilled Burrowers

Groundhogs are excellent diggers and create extensive burrow systems. Their burrows can be up to 66 feet long and have multiple entrances, providing shelter and a place to hibernate.

2. Hibernation Experts

Groundhogs are true hibernators. They enter hibernation in late fall and emerge in early spring. During hibernation, their body temperature drops dramatically, and their heart rate slows to just a few beats per minute.

3. Herbivorous Diet

Groundhogs are herbivores, primarily eating grasses, plants, fruits, and vegetables. They particularly enjoy crops, making them notorious pests for farmers and gardeners.

4. Impressive Climbers and Swimmers

Although they primarily live on the ground, groundhogs are good climbers and can even swim if necessary to escape predators or find food.

5. Lifespan

In the wild, groundhogs typically live 3 to 6 years, though some can live longer in captivity. Their short lifespan in the wild is due to predation and other natural hazards.

6. Fast Growers

Groundhogs give birth to litters of 2 to 6 pups in the spring, and the young grow quickly. By the time they're around 3 months old, they're ready to leave the burrow and live on their own.

Install a Fence

Groundhogs are excellent diggers and climbers. A fence that is at least 3-4 feet tall, with the bottom buried 12 inches underground, can prevent them from burrowing under. Angle the top of the fence outward to deter climbing.

Eliminate Food Sources

Cover garden crops with netting or row covers to prevent groundhogs from accessing your vegetables and fruits.  Clean up fallen fruits, berries, or other food sources in your yard. Groundhogs are attracted to easy meals.

Fill or Block Burrows

Once you’re sure the groundhog has left, fill in the burrow or block the entrance with rocks, dirt, or hardware cloth. Groundhogs usually won’t return to a blocked burrow. If groundhogs are burrowing under structures like sheds or porches, seal the areas with fencing or hardware cloth to prevent access.

Keep Your Yard Tidy

Groundhogs like to nest in cluttered areas, so remove brush piles, wood stacks, and other debris that can provide shelter.  Regularly mowing your lawn and trimming overgrown bushes and tall grass can make your yard less attractive to groundhogs looking for a place to burrow.