What do you do if you find a baby groundhog?

Call a local wildlife rehabilitator or your local game and fish department. They will have more appropriate resources to care for the baby groundhog and release it to wild when it can care for itself.

Can baby groundhogs live without their mother?

They are extremely alert, and will dive back into the den at their mother's warning, which is a sharp, high-pitched whistle. At about 44 days they are weaned, and can survive without mothers milk.

Can you keep a baby groundhog as a pet?

Do Groundhogs Make Good Pets? Groundhogs do not make good pets, as they obviously dig and chew through almost anything in their path. Odds are, they will find a way out of a cage and will escape eventually. It is especially important that you do not try to keep baby groundhogs, even if you know they are orphaned.

Do groundhogs abandon their babies?

Groundhogs are uniquely private animals that avoid humans as much as they can. They give birth to their young a month after mating and stay in their burrows to take care of their babies, only leaving to search for food. It is, therefore, quite difficult to see a baby groundhog, much less figure out if it is an orphan.

What do groundhog babies eat?

During the first three weeks of life, they subsist solely on their mother's milk. However, once they're old enough, they will also begin to eat soft flowers and grasses. By the time they leave their mothers, they can eat the same foods as adult groundhogs.

What to do if You Find...A Baby Groundhog!

Do groundhogs live in families?

Family values.

In general, groundhog social groups consist of one adult male and two adult females, each with an offspring from the previous breeding season (usually female), and the current litter of infants. Interactions within a female's group are generally friendly.

What month do groundhogs have babies?

The breeding season for groundhogs extends from early March to mid- or late April, after hibernation. A mated pair remains in the same den throughout the 31–32 day gestation period. As birth of the young approaches in April or May, the male leaves the den.

How do you care for an orphaned baby groundhog?

Provide the groundhog with a large cage. Place a drip water bottle in the cage. At four weeks old introduce solid foods. Baby groundhogs can eat rabbit pellet food, apples and other fruits.

Do groundhogs carry rabies?

Groundhogs are known carriers of the rabies virus. If bitten by one, it's important to immediately seek medical attention and be treated with the rabies vaccine.

Can I feed a groundhog?

Greens like lettuce, alfalfa, clovers, dandelions, daisies, red mulberry and hackberry leaves. Trees (specifically bark and twigs) like black cherry and dogwood. Vegetation like carrots, celery, corn, peas, and beans. Fruits like berries, cherries and apples.

Can a groundhog be tamed?

Groundhogs Are Wild Rodents

Here are a few examples: In California, state fish and game law bans the possession of any rodents except golden hamsters, mice, rats, and domestic guinea pigs. Much like ferrets, groundhogs are a no-go.

Are groundhogs nice to humans?

Are Groundhogs Aggressive To Humans? It is very rare for groundhogs to attack humans. However, when they feel threatened or when they feel that their babies are in danger, they may attack. A few cases of groundhogs attacking humans have been reported but injuries are not that serious.

How many babies do a groundhog have?

Pregnancy goes by fast for them. Groundhog mating season is in the early spring and, after only a month-long pregnancy, mother groundhogs typically give birth to a litter of two to six blind, hairless babies.

Do baby groundhogs nurse?

Baby groundhogs are born approximately one month after the groundhog mating season during March and April. The babies are completely dependent on the mother, and they nurse on the mother for an average of four to six weeks after birth.

Do groundhogs bite?

A groundhog's bite isn't usually dangerous, but the risk of rabies should be a consideration.

How can I help a groundhog?

Sprinkle blood meal, ground black pepper, dried blood, or talcum powder around the perimeter of your garden. You can try using hair clippings as well. Puree and strain hot peppers and garlic, mix them with water and enough liquid soap to make it stick, and spray it liberally around the garden.

Do groundhogs come out during the day?

Groundhog Behavior

Activity: Groundhogs are diurnal (active during the day) from spring to fall. Most activity occurs during the early morning and early evening hours, at which groundhogs emerge from their burrows to gather food.

Can a groundhog hurt my dog?

For some homeowners, having a groundhog on the property is too big a risk. They can wound your pet and also do damage to your property by unsettling foundations and chewing wiring under buildings.

How long does a groundhog live?

Lifespan: In the wild, groundhogs can live up to six years with two or three being average. In captivity, groundhogs reportedly live up to 14 years. Breeding: Groundhogs tend to be solitary except in the spring when a litter of four to six young are born. Litters of one to nine have been recorded.

Do groundhogs move their home?

They build impressive homes.

Their burrows even have separate rooms for defecation—otherwise known as bathrooms. In some cases, groundhogs have more than one residence and move from one burrow to another.

Do groundhogs eat squirrels?

They also eat acorns and other nuts. They will eat insects that they come across as they eat plants. Groundhogs are also known to eat meat such as chipmunks or other small mammals they have found dead or killed themselves.

Do groundhogs drink water?

Thought not to drink water, groundhogs are reported to obtain needed liquids from the juices of food-plants, aided by their sprinkling with rain or dew.

Do groundhogs survive relocation?

Orphaned groundhog due to trapping & relocating. While many people think that live-trapping animals and taking them “to the woods” where they will live happily ever after is an ideal solution for all involved, this isn't actually what happens.