When people think of groundhogs, two things come to mind — weather predictors (Punxsutawney Phil) and garden invaders. Whether you call them groundhogs, grundsows, woodchucks, whistle pigs or marmots, they are one of the most common mammals in our state. (Sorry to be the bearer of this news.) These voracious vegetarians are well known by almost every homeowner who has witnessed their skill in digging burrows and in eating a wide variety of plants. Their appetites have gotten them into trouble with most gardeners and farmers.

Groundhogs are members of the Order Rodentia (rodents) and Family Scluridae (squirrels). The definition of a rodent includes their continually growing, large curved teeth that must be constantly used. Misaligned teeth can literally grow into a complete circle, sometimes even penetrating the skull cavity and killing the animal. 

Despite their notoriety, groundhogs are gentle animals who prefer to dig, eat and sun themselves. When was the last time you heard of a groundhog attacking someone? 

They are found in a variety of habitats. Adults rarely move more than a half mile within their home range, preferring to stick close to the safety of their burrow. They are very muscular, with short powerful legs and sturdy claws that are needed to do so much digging, especially underground and around rocks. They have keen senses except for their not-so- great eyesight. They are most active in the morning and evening and spend the rest of their day in their maze of tunnels. Groundhogs often have one main burrow with many side tunnels and even back entrances. Skunks, raccoons and foxes may take over and remodel vacant burrows and use them to bear and raise their young; foxes have even been known to kill a groundhog to acquire its burrow. 

You won’t see groundhogs during winter. They are true hibernators, tucking themselves into the earth by mid-November. Males emerge in the spring before the females and may fight aggressively for those emerging females. After a 28-day gestation, females bear litters of three or four blind, hairless and helpless little chucks in April and early May. They remain underground for about a month. When they emerge they are extremely vulnerable to dogs and foxes. An average groundhog may live about 4 years

Groundhogs will munch most vegetation in their path. If they stumble upon a garden, they think that they have won the lottery. Groundhogs are good climbers —  I’ve seen them climb my mulberry tree to almost the second story in pursuit of berries and tender leaves — but they can be defeated by the right fence. It should be buried at the bottom; but the key is also having the top of the fence curve outward and be light enough to bend in a soft “horseshoe” that gets pulled over as the groundhog tries to climb it. A course of chicken wire at the top of your garden fence is ideal for this.

Many people think it’s a good idea to trap and relocate a groundhog, but relocation is cruel and never successful in the long run — you might as well put a “Vacancy” sign on your front porch. Another groundhog will soon claim the unoccupied territory. 

You may also be trapping a female with babies in a den — she will likely die from stress and the babies will starve to death. Then you have a stinky yard overrun with flies. 

When I had a larger property, and it seemed like I had more groundhogs than humans in residence, I discouraged them by pouring used kitty litter (safe, non-toxic and something I have in abundant supply) into the burrows closest to my garden. Groundhogs are very clean animals and they did not like digging through used kitty litter. My current backyard groundhog and I have made peace. He lives under my shed and eats some of my plants, but he leaves my garden alone. He provides entertainment for my cats, who watch him from the safely of the screened room, and I have come to believe that the devil you know may be better than the one you don’t.