Groundhog

It is diurnal, especially morning and late afternoon. It uses habitats including open fields, pastures, road embankments and forest edges. It feeds on grasses, clover, leaves, garden plants and occasional insects.

Groundhogs feed close to cover and retreat underground when alarmed. They are true hibernators, lowering body temperature and metabolism for much of winter in the colder parts of the range.

Groundhog burrows can provide shelter later used by rabbits, snakes, foxes and other wildlife.

Their burrows mix soil and create underground refuges later used by rabbits, reptiles, amphibians and other mammals. Grazing and digging also create small patches of early-successional habitat.

Hibernation is a major physiological shift rather than ordinary sleep, allowing the animal to survive months when green food is scarce.

Mating — soon after adults emerge from hibernation, usually February to April, later in the north.
Gestation — about 31–32 days.
Burrow young — usually 2–6 young are born underground and remain in the den for roughly 5–6 weeks.
Independence — juveniles disperse during summer and build fat reserves before their first winter hibernation.

• Check burrow entrances before filling or blocking them; occupied burrows may contain dependent young in spring.
• Use fencing or exclusion around gardens rather than repeatedly destroying active burrows.
• Drive carefully along grassy road embankments where groundhogs often forage.
• Keep dogs from entering burrows; a cornered groundhog can defend itself with strong incisors.

• A groundhog seen in winter is necessarily sick. Warm spells can bring brief activity, especially near the beginning or end of hibernation.
• Groundhogs eat tree roots because they dig near them. Most feeding is on green vegetation; digging is primarily for shelter.
• A burrow becomes useless when the groundhog leaves. Many other animals can use abandoned groundhog tunnels.

• Eastern gray squirrel
• eastern-fox-squirrel
• Eastern chipmunk