Groundhog (Woodchuck)

• Large sections of vegetable plants eaten cleanly from the base — groundhogs clip stems with incisor teeth, leaving a clean angled cut
• Entire young plants removed overnight, leaving only the stub at the soil surface
• A large burrow entrance (4–6 inches diameter) somewhere near the garden, often at a fence base, under a shed, or at a brushy margin
• Damage concentrated along garden edges nearest the burrow entrance, progressing inward
• Multiple plant species eaten in a single visit — groundhogs take brassicas, beans, peas, and leafy greens readily
• Damage visible in morning, typically; groundhogs are diurnal and may be seen feeding in early morning or late afternoon

Groundhogs are true hibernators, entering dormancy in October or November and emerging in late February through March depending on latitude. Adults breed soon after emerging; young are born in April and May and disperse in midsummer to establish their own burrows. A groundhog maintains one primary burrow and often one or more secondary burrows nearby, each with a main entrance and an escape exit. Adults are solitary outside of breeding. They feed intensively from emergence through fall to build fat reserves for hibernation. A single groundhog can consume several pounds of vegetation per week during peak summer feeding.

1. 01Install a fence as the primary control: 4 feet tall chicken wire with the bottom 12 inches bent outward at a 90-degree angle and buried 6 inches — the underground apron prevents digging under
2. 02The fence need not be rigid: a floppy or unsupported upper foot of wire is harder for groundhogs to climb over than a taut fence
3. 03Locate and block secondary burrow entrances near the garden to discourage groundhogs from establishing so close to the bed
4. 04Live trapping with a Havahart-style trap baited with fresh cantaloupe, apple, or sweet corn can remove individuals — check local regulations on relocation before trapping
5. 05Exclusion under sheds and decks (hardware cloth aprons) removes potential denning sites adjacent to gardens
6. 06Repellent sprays (hot pepper, predator urine) have limited and short-lived effect on groundhogs, especially on food crops they are strongly motivated to reach

If you're losing crops to groundhogs every season and fencing is not practical, your local extension wildlife specialist or state wildlife agency can advise on legal trapping and relocation options in your county.

• Managing Woodchucks— Penn State Extension
• Woodchuck (Groundhog) Damage Management— University of New Hampshire Extension