Groundhog (Woodchuck)
Marmota monax
moderate risk
other
Overview
Large burrowing rodent that causes significant damage to gardens and farm infrastructure through eating and excavation.
40-65cm body. Stocky, short legs. Grizzled brown-gray fur. Short bushy tail.
Prevention Strategies
- •Hardware cloth fence buried 30cm with 30cm L-bend at bottom
- •Exclusion from under decks and sheds
- •Live trap and relocate early before young born
Control Methods
- •Exclusion with buried hardware cloth (most effective)
- •Live trapping with cantaloupe or fresh vegetables as bait
- •Gas cartridges in active burrow (where legal)
- •Professional wildlife management
Interesting Facts
- •Groundhog Day (February 2) is based on the groundhog's emergence to check for its shadow
- •True hibernators - body temperature drops to near freezing and heart rate to 4-10 beats per minute
- •Burrows are used by many other species (foxes, rabbits, skunks) after abandonment
- •Can consume over 0.5kg of vegetation per day in summer