GroundHogs
Description
- Groundhogs are well adapted for digging, with short, powerful limbs and curved, thick claws. Unlike other sciurids, the groundhog’s spine is curved, more like that of a mole and the tail is comparably shorter as well – only about one-fourth of body length. Suited to their temperate habitat, groundhogs are covered with two coats of fur: a dense grey undercoat and a longer coat of banded guard hairs that gives the groundhog its distinctive “frosted” appearance
Diet
- Groundhogs are herbivores. They eat a variety of plants, flowers, and vegetables.
Size
- Average size is 17-24 inches (not including the tail) in length and weighs up to 13 lbs.
Habitat
- Groundhogs spend most of their time underground in complex burrow systems, which they dig in dry, well-drained soil. Most of the time groundhogs dig their burrows in areas with nearby covers such as fencerows, hedgerows, beside structures, home foundations or trees.
Range
- The groundhog prefers open country and the edges of woodland and is rarely far from a burrow entrance. Since the clearing of forests provided it with a much more suitable habitat the groundhog population is probably higher now than it was before the arrival of European settlers in North America. Groundhogs are often hunted for sport, which tends to control their numbers. However, their ability to reproduce quickly has tended to mitigate the depopulating effects of sports hunting. As a consequence, the groundhog is a familiar animal to many people in the United States and Canada.
Lifespan
- Groundhogs can live for 3-6 years.
Life, History, Reproduction & More
- Usually, groundhogs breed in their second year, but a small proportion may breed in their first. The breeding season extends from early March to mid- or late April, after hibernation. A mated pair remains in the same den during the gestation period. One litter is produced annually, usually containing two to six blind, hairless and helpless young.
Have a Wildlife Problem?
Call us today or schedule an appointment to find out for yourself why NJ Pest are the experts in wildlife removal and control services. You can count on to get the job done!