Heres how to keep groundhogs away from your home and garden.
They consume large quantities of herbaceous vegetation, especially fruits and vegetables.
But theyll also eat clover, bark, and landscape plants.
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Groundhogs live in an extensive underground system.
Their burrows can cause infrastructure issues when they dig under a shed, deck, patio, or sidewalk.
The holes also can be a risk to people or livestock that may fall in and break a leg.
Theyre often mistaken for beavers or nutria by homeowners who havent seen one before, says Anderson.
You may see the main entrances to their burrows, which are 10 to 12-inches in diameter.
The burrow systems may reach 30 feet in length with multiple entrances, says Owen.
before diving into the nearest hole.
Active during the day, groundhogs rarely travel far from a protective burrow to forage and dine.
If you see a woodchuck on your property, they probably live nearby, says Anderson.
Theyre also not likely to leave any time soon if the eating is good in your yard.
), these voracious rodents can take a toll on your garden in a hurry.
Heres how to discourage them from making your garden an all-you-can-eat buffet:
Are Groundhogs Dangerous?
Groundhogs do carry parasites, such asfleasandticks.
Like all mammals, they also are susceptible to rabies.
Do Groundhogs Hibernate?
Groundhogs are one of the largest mammals that hibernate every year.
By late fall, they enter their burrows, and their metabolism slows.
