Where they live?
The Groundhog prefers open country and the edges of woodland, and it
is rarely far from a burrow entrance. Since the clearing of forests provided it with much more suitable habitat, the Groundhog population is probably higher now than it was before the arrival
of European settlers in North America.
What they eat?
Groundhogs subsist primarily on wild grasses and other vegetation, supplementing their diet with berries and
agricultural crops when available. Though not as omnivorous as many other sciurid’s, Groundhogs will also eat grubs, grasshoppers, insects, snails and other small animals.
What if they live near your home?
Groundhogs prefer to retreat to their burrows when threatened;
if the burrow is invaded, the Groundhog will tenaciously defend itself with its two large incisors and front claws. Additionally, Groundhogs are generally agnostic
and territorial among their own species, and may skirmish to establish dominance.
With that said, if you try to attempt a capture and fail you may cause the Groundhog
to retreat to its burrow and defend itself. Call Shumaker’s Animal Control at 443-854-8072
and we will remove the Groundhog.
Basic
information:
Groundhogs
are excellent burrowers, using burrows for sleeping, rearing young, and hibernating. Groundhog burrows generally have between two and five
entrances, providing Groundhogs their primary means of escape from predators. Burrows are particularly
large, with up to 45 feet of tunnels buried up to 5 feet underground, and can pose a serious threat to agricultural and residential
development by damaging farm machinery and even undermining building foundations.
