Groundhogs are said to come from their holes on February 2nd to announce the end of winter. Even though some individuals may like these cute animals, many gardeners dislike groundhogs. This squirrel family member may seriously harm crops, and keeping them away from the garden can be difficult. The answer to the question “what does a groundhog eat” is pretty much anything.
The Groundhog Lifestyle
Although they are occasionally called woodchucks, “groundhog” is more appropriate. These large rodents can breed like pigs in a backyard garden and live underground in burrows. An adult groundhog, which weighs between 6 and 12 pounds, may eat up to 1.5 pounds (1 kg) of grass per day (3-5 kg).
Groundhogs enter their underground tunnels between the middle of September and the beginning of October to hibernate for the winter. Groundhogs build up this layer of fat before hibernation because they survive during this time only on their fat stores. Coincidentally, this coincides with the peak harvest season for many vegetables cultivated at home.
What Plants Do Groundhogs Eat?
Although groundhog consumes mostly plant matter in their diet, they will sometimes consume insects and larvae. They are drawn to the following plants in lawns and gardens as well as alfalfa, clover, dandelions, and grass:
- Apples
- Acorns
- Asters
- Beans
- Blackberries
- Blueberries
- Broccoli
- Cabbage
- Carrots
- Celery
- Cherries
- Coneflowers
- Corn
- Cucumbers
- Daisies
- Hackberries
- Hickory nuts
- Lettuce
- Maple leaves
- Marigolds
- Mulberries
- Pears
- Peas
- Raspberries
- Snapdragons
- Soybeans
- Squash
- Sunflowers
- Sweet peppers
- Tomatoes
The diet of woodchucks may also include bark & roots in addition to these foods.
How to Spot a Groundhog in the Garden
Fruit, vegetables, and plants damaged by animals are easy to identify, but it is not always simple to determine who was to blame. Observing woodchucks or finding proof of their dens close to the garden is one of the greatest methods to determine whether it has become groundhog food.
Woodchucks rely on dew and the moisture found within plants for their hydration requirements. In the summer, when the dew is thick, you will most likely see them scavenging for food in the early morning hours. You may see them in the spring at about midday.
Groundhogs will not hide even when the vegetable garden is covered in dense plant foliage. They will probably run out and go for the shelter of their underground tunnels as you get closer to the garden.
One or more entry tunnels allow groundhogs to enter their burrow. Side entrances will just be a 4 to 6-inch (10-15 cm) hole in the ground, unlike the main entrance, which will have a pile of soil at the entry. Burrow tunnels can be 6 feet (2 meters) deep and 50 to 100 feet (15 to 30 meters) long.
Groundhog footprints may also be found in soft dirt. These look like very small handprints. Woodchuck footprints may be recognized from raccoon prints by claw marks at the ends of each finger.
Protecting Garden Veggies from Woodchucks
The removal of groundhogs from the garden might be difficult. By using one of the groundhog’s preferred foods as bait, you can capture them. Try cantaloupe, peanut butter, corn, sunflower seeds, or peanuts. But keep in mind that destroying the existing burrow often invites more groundhogs to relocate into the existing one.
Garden veggies may be effectively protected against groundhogs using fencing. Climbers and diggers are woodchucks. Measures that may deter groundhogs and protect vegetables include burying the fence’s bottom and bending the top outward.