What do Groundhogs Eat? (Everything You Need to Know)

Groundhogs, like most other rodents, are herbivorous, which means they eat mostly plant matter.

Groundhogs eat a wide range of plants, the majority of which are found in the wild.

They do, however, enjoy eating cultivated crops, which can earn them the ire of farmers and gardeners.

A groundhog’s diet consists primarily of vegetables, grasses, and berries, but they will consume other foods as well.

They will, for example, consume insects, mollusks, and even small birds.

However, they are not considered omnivorous because they eat these other foods only on occasion.

Groundhogs consume plants that are abundant in the environment.

Groundhogs, contrary to popular belief, do not drink water.

They stay hydrated by eating succulent (juicy) plants that dew or rain has wet.

Groundhogs can swim as well. Swimming allows them to avoid predators, and their burrows keep them safe.

Here is a list of the foods that groundhogs prefer:

• Grasses
• Vegetables
• Clover
• Alfalfa
• Leaves
• Berries
• Grubs
• Insects
• Snails
• Birds
• Barks

How do Groundhogs Get Food?

Groundhogs rely on their keen senses to help them survive and find food in the wild.

A groundhog, in particular, relies heavily on its senses of sight, smell, and hearing.

Groundhogs will use their eyes and noses to find food after emerging from their burrows.

Their noses are very sensitive, which helps them find ripe vegetables.

Their sensitivity, however, is also their undoing, as many people leave out odorous substances that groundhogs find repulsive.

Meanwhile, groundhogs rely less on smell and touch to find food.

They typically build burrows in areas where food is plentiful and easily accessible.

As a result, they will frequently dig under fences or other barriers to reach the plants on the other side.

They are most active during the day, but only come out to forage in the mornings or evenings.

Groundhogs may bring extra food back to their dens after foraging.

Their desire to return food to their burrows stems from their instinct to store food for the winter.

Groundhogs Mating Season

Groundhog mating season takes place in early spring, around February.

Males emerge from hibernation in search of female burrows.   

When he finds one, he enters. Males are said to do this to meet potential mates.

Mating season starts in the spring, and females give birth to two to six hairless, blind babies.

Kits, pups, and chuckling are the names given to young groundhogs.

When they reach adulthood, they usually abandon their mother to build their own homes.

Groundhog families split up in the fall, and the young reach sexual maturity after two years.

Groundhogs typically live three to six years in the wild but have been known to live for up to fourteen years in captivity.

Groundhog Removal Methods