groundhog management guide

groundhog photograph from howell’s “revision of the american marmots” (1915)

overview

first, a linguistic aside: whether you call them groundhogs, woodchucks, or whistle-pigs, you’re right. the naming situation is complicated.

they may be nationally renowned for their meteorological predictions. they may look like cute, oversized hamsters. but after the first time your garden disappears or you twist your ankle in a burrow entrance, you’ll find yourself thinking very different thoughts.

groundhogs have become one of michigan’s most problematic wildlife species. their population explosion tracks directly with the number of fences and fields, which created the perfect “transitionary” habitat for them by clearing michigan’s forests into a patchwork of fields and woodlots.^1,2

after years of dealing with groundhog damage to gardens, equipment, and myself here in michigan, i’ve assembled this guide from research literature, michigan dnr resources, and hard-won experience.

p.s.: most other sources focus on their damage to agriculture and structures, but groundhogs are also host to a range of ticks, including the blacklegged/deer tick. if you’re serious about tick management, you’ll need to take steps to keep their dramatic population growth in check. otherwise, they’ll end up as a serious reservoir for the same tick-borne diseases carried by deer.

what you’re dealing with

physical characteristics

if you ever spot what looks like a giant hamster standing on its hind legs, you’ve seen a groundhog. adult groundhogs weigh 5-15 lbs and measure 16-26 inches. males run about 8% heavier than females.³

key features to identify them:

• grizzled grayish-brown fur with lighter tips
• dark brown or black feet and short tail
• white incisors that never stop growing (unusual for rodents)³
• powerful legs with curved claws built for digging

where they live

groundhogs love edges - anywhere forest meets field:

• pastures and old fields
• roadsides and fencerows
• stream banks
• woodlot edges
• well-drained slopes (keeps burrows dry)¹

in areas with rich vegetation and competition, their home range typically covers just a few acres, but they spend most of their time close to their burrow.³ in suburbs, they still manage to thrive at much smaller scales than their country cousins.⁴

annual activity cycle

there’s more detail on the biology and ecology page, but if you’re going to manage groundhogs, it’s critical to understand their annual behaviors. yes, they are famed for their hibernation, but it’s the hyperphagia that will really ruin your garden harvest. the table below shows their annual activity cycle.

population

groundhog numbers have exploded since michigan was settled. that patchwork quilt of fields, pastures, and forests you see from 40,000 feet or google earth never existed until we settled the land, and they’ve been one of the biggest beneficiaries of our changing landscape. we’ve inadvertently created their ideal habitat.²

damage assessment

groundhogs are widely perceived as nuisance species because their natural lifecycle activities cause significant damage to crops, equipment, and property.⁶ the damage can be categorized into three main types:

crop depredation

as herbivores with strong preferences for legumes and tender greens, groundhogs directly threaten high-value midwestern crops. an adult groundhog can consume up to 1.5 pounds of vegetation daily, enabling a single animal or family to cause substantial damage quickly.⁶

damage from burrowing activities

while feeding habits are problematic, the most significant and costly damage often stems from extensive burrowing:

infrastructural damage

groundhog impact extends to public and private infrastructure:

• earthen structures: burrowing into dams, levees, and dikes weakens structures and leads to washouts⁹
• utilities: documented cases of gnawing on underground cables and pipes during excavations, causing power and service outages²

estimated annual costs:

management overview

unfortunately, the only way to effectively manage groundhogs at scale is through trapping and hunting. no matter how hard you try, one good rain will wash away that coyote spray, or one sandy spot will let them dig under your buried fence. luckily, they’re a very easy species to trap and easier to hunt than many might tell you.

legal considerations in michigan

michigan groundhog (woodchuck) regulations per wildlife conservation order section 3.506:⁵

• year-round hunting: open season statewide all year with valid base license
• state park exception: closed april 1 to september 14 in state parks and recreation areas
• property damage exception: may be taken year-round on private property without a license when doing or physically present where they could imminently cause damage to forest products, roads, dams, buildings, orchards, apiaries, livestock and horticultural or agricultural crops
• legal methods: all legal hunting and trapping methods for the species permitted by law
• no relocation: groundhogs cannot be relocated to another property - release on same property or euthanize only

always check current michigan dnr wildlife conservation order and local ordinances before taking action.

quick reference

effective baits for trapping or hunting

if you want an easy solution that lasts longer, i swear by a woodchuck bait called whistle stop. dip a twig in, brush it against some flowering clover, and then set up with your 22 or set the clover in a trap.

deterrents that work

we have poultry and small goats, but if you (and your neighbors) aren’t worried about drawing predators, you can also use coyote, fox, or bobcat urine to keep them away with 90-98% efficacy when regularly sprayed on plants. some also swear by used cat litter around burrow entrances, but it probably depends on your cats diet - and i personally wouldn’t want to be spreading most litter products around my food or water.

historical context

our relationship with groundhogs has changed dramatically. in the 1800s, people ate them regularly - documented in audubon’s work.¹⁰ the punxsutawney groundhog club held annual hunts and served “woodchuck steak” at banquets, with 100 groundhogs killed at the 1913 hunt.¹¹

now they’re both a beloved weather forecaster and a major agricultural pest - a strange duality that reflects how we’ve reshaped the landscape.

detailed guides

• biology and ecology - anatomy, burrow architecture, sensory systems
• annual lifecycle - hibernation physiology, reproduction, development
• agricultural impacts - crop damage, infrastructure problems, economic costs
• management techniques - trapping, exclusion, deterrents, legal requirements

resources

historical reference

• revision of the american marmots (1915) - howell’s foundational taxonomic work¹²

references

[1] Michigan Department of Natural Resources. (2024). Nuisance Wildlife. Lansing, MI: Michigan DNR.

[2] Woodchuck (Groundhog) Ecology and Damage Management. Wisconsin Wildlife Damage.

[3] Baker, R.H. (1983). Michigan Mammals. East Lansing: Michigan State University Press.

[4] Lehrer, E.W., & Schooley, R.L. (2010). Space use of woodchucks across an urbanization gradient within an agricultural landscape. Journal of Mammalogy, 91(6), 1342-1349.

[5] Michigan Department of Natural Resources. (2024). Nuisance Wildlife and Wildlife Conservation Order Section 3.506. Lansing, MI: Michigan DNR.

[6] Ecology and Management of the Groundhog. Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station.

[7] Animal Damage Management. Purdue Extension Entomology.

[8] Managing Wildlife Damage: Woodchuck (Marmota monax). Bugwood Cloud.

[9] Groundhog Control. Varment Guard Wildlife Services.

[10] Audubon, J.J., & Bachman, J. (1845-1848). The Viviparous Quadrupeds of North America. New York: V.G. Audubon.

[11] History.com. (2013). Groundhog Was Once on Punxsutawney’s Menu. Originally from Philadelphia Inquirer (1913).

[12] Howell, A.H. (1915). Revision of the American Marmots. North American Fauna No. 37. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Agriculture.

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groundhog populations are far above historical levels because we created perfect habitat for them. management aims to reduce damage while acknowledging they’re part of the ecosystem we’ve built.