What do Groundhogs Eat

If you have groundhogs in your garden, you don't need an introduction to the voracious feeding habits of these creatures. Owing to this very feeding habit, they are considered to be a menace by farmers and gardening enthusiasts in North America. Among the various facts about groundhogs, one of the lesser known fact is that they eat voraciously during the warmer months, and go hungry during the cold months when they are hibernating. Before we move on to get the details about what do groundhogs eat, let's have a brief look at the other general attributes or interesting animal facts about this animal.

Groundhog Species
The groundhog is a rodent species native to the northeastern and central United States. Even though their population is spread over the entire continent of North America, the above mentioned region has the highest population concentration. The scientific name of this species is Marmota monax. Other than the common name groundhog, it is also known by a range of other names including land-beaver, whistle pig and woodchuck. An adult groundhog can attain a length of 16 to 26 inches and weigh 4-9 lbs. This makes them the largest member of the family Sciuridae in this region. Being ground dwelling creatures, the groundhogs have powerful limbs and thick claws which help them in digging the ground with immense ease.

What do Groundhogs Eat?
Groundhogs are herbivorous rodents which feed on a wide range of vegetation. They are most often found feeding during the day time. They eat wild grass, fruits, roots, leaves, bark, agricultural crops etc. Even though they prefer green vegetation, roots and barks form an important part of their dietary habits. These creatures also resort to nuts, but they don't store them like their cousins - the squirrels do. Interestingly, agricultural crops seem to be their favorite. They are known to wipe out vast stretches of crops with great ease, owing to which they are regarded as pests in the region. Though rarely, groundhogs also display omnivorous traits at times, by feeding on a wide range of insects. Even though grubs seem to be their favorite, they are also known to resort to grasshoppers, snails etc.

What do Groundhogs Eat during Hibernation?
Groundhogs are considered to be voracious eaters owing to the fact that they eat a lot during the warm months of the year. Being one of the animals that hibernate, this dietary habit of groundhogs acts as adaptation which helps them to sustain the cold months to follow. Their adaptation to cold also includes building special burrows, built below the frost line, wherein they hibernate from the month of October to April. The time frame of hibernation may vary depending on the climate. In some regions, groundhogs hibernate for almost half of the year, while in other regions they hibernate only for 3-4 months. During hibernation, groundhogs don't eat anything, but survive on the body fat they have derived and stored from what they ate during the warmer months. This is where their voracious feeding habit comes to their rescue. When they come out from hibernation they are greeted with greenery all around, and a plenty of food to feast on.

Other than what do groundhogs eat facts, the popular attributes of the life of these creatures include their adaptations, their appearance, and not to forget, the Groundhog Day. A look at the Groundhog Day history can give you an idea about its popularity in the American culture. Over the last few years, large-scale hunting has resulted in a drastic fall in numbers of wolves and other predators of groundhogs. This has in turn boosted their number, and hence this animal species is listed as a 'Least Concerned' species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).