Superb Dog EditorGroundhogs are extremely prevalent in the north-central and eastern parts of the United States. They’re often spotted in backyards and parks, diving into their underground burrows to avoid confrontation with predators and other curious animals. But, will they attack a dog if prompted? Are groundhogs dangerous to dogs? Read on to find out.
What Are Groundhogs?
Groundhogs, also known as woodchucks, are a member of the squirrel family and are known to be common yard pests. They’re most often found across the central and eastern United States, living as far north as Canada and Alaska.
Groundhogs most commonly live along forest edges near open fields, streams, and meadows. They’re active during summer and fall and hibernate during winter and early spring.
Are Groundhogs Aggressive?
So, are groundhogs dangerous to dogs? Groundhogs will only become aggressive if they feel the need to defend themselves. Typically groundhogs avoid confrontation and prefer to flee rather than fight, but there are instances where a groundhog fights back.
If a groundhog feels cornered or trapped, they are most likely to attack when threatened by a larger animal like a dog.
Can A Groundhog Attack A Dog?
Yes, a groundhog can attack a dog if they feel threatened and cornered. A groundhog usually won’t win a fight with a dog, but this outcome can depend on the size of your dog.
Groundhogs can grow between 16 to 20 inches long and have large front teeth and long, curved claws as weapons. Regardless of your dog’s size, a groundhog can do some severe damage if they decide to fight back.
How Bad Can A Groundhog Hurt My Dog?
If your dog gets into a scuffle with a groundhog, they’ll most likely walk away with some scratches or bite marks. Their teeth are sharp enough to warrant stitches if they grab onto your dog tight enough. Groundhogs are also known as rabies carriers which can be transmitted to your dog through a bite.
What Do I Do If A Groundhog Bites My Dog?
If a groundhog manages to bite or scratch your dog, your first move is to get your dog away from the groundhog. Then, if possible, gently wash and disinfect the bite site to help stop the infection from setting in. After dressing the wound, contact your vet to schedule an appointment so a professional can assess the injury.
Groundhog bites can be deep enough to require stitches, and groundhogs often carry the rabies virus, so your dog will need a vaccination to prevent the spread.
Will My Dog Go After A Groundhog?
This question typically depends on your dog’s temperament. Most dogs cannot catch a groundhog because of how quick they are, but that doesn’t stop them from trying. Certain dog breeds are more prone to chasing small animals (terriers and hounds, for example).
Groundhogs can usually escape a dog by diving into their burrow or past a fence. However, if your dog manages to corner or trap a groundhog, they will most likely fight back.
Other Groundhog-Related Risks To Your Dog
Besides the possibility of your dog being attacked by a groundhog, these small critters can also pose other dangers to your pup. The holes they dig can be hard to spot, so if your dog is running in the backyard and doesn’t see one, they may catch a paw in the hole.
Are Groundhogs Aggressive To Humans?
Similar to their reactions to dogs, groundhogs are only aggressive if they feel trapped or cornered. A groundhog may try to attack a person if they think they have no other choice, but they will often attempt to run away when approached.
Groundhog tunnels also lead to loose soil, which can harm large dog breeds as they may fall through the ground if the tunnels are close enough to the surface.
What Attracts Groundhogs To The Yard?
Groundhogs are constantly looking for food to munch on, and backyards next to wooded areas are the perfect place for them to post up for three meals a day.
They mainly eat clover and alfalfa but also dine on grass, weeds, dandelion greens, and other herbs, fruits, and veggies. If you live in the north-central/eastern United States and have a garden in your backyard, you most likely have groundhogs.
These critters can easily climb fences, walls, and trees. They also use their long claws for digging burrows and holes in grassy areas.
How Do I Know I Have Groundhogs In My Yard?
Some of the common signs of groundhog activity are:
- Multiple raised dirt mounds in your yard.
- Squishy spots in your yard where the soil is very loose.
- Dead or discolored areas of your yard that follow a specific path (this is most likely the site of the groundhog’s tunnel system).
- Damage to your grass, surrounding tree roots, and garden or flowers.
How Do Groundhogs Dig Holes In The Ground?
Groundhogs use their sharp claws to dig their burrows. Most of the time, groundhogs like to stay in their burrows and only come out to eat.
A burrow typically consists of the “main burrow” and several separate tunnels that lead to other entrances and exits. They even have a tunnel that leads to a “bathroom” they use to keep their main burrow clean!
Groundhog tunnels can often be 6 feet long and have dozens of exits. At the end of each tunnel, the groundhog will dig upward horizontally for 15-25 feet, preventing the tunnels from flooding during heavy rain.
What Months Do Groundhogs Come Out?
Groundhogs are true hibernators, which means they stay in their burrows during cold months to sleep through the winter. You can see groundhogs outside their burrows through late spring, summer, and early fall.
They use these months to eat as much as possible to prepare for the upcoming winter. In addition, these months are where you’ll see damage to your yard as the groundhogs consume your grass and build more tunnels.
Groundhogs will birth 4-6 babies in their burrows in the spring. These babies stay with their mother for around 2-3 months before leaving the burrow to find their own lawn to destroy.
How To Prevent Groundhogs From Moving In
Thankfully, you can take many preventative measures to ensure your yard remains groundhog-free.
Maintain Your Yard
Groundhogs may be attracted to your yard if there are wood piles, leaf piles, or garbage cans/litter around the area. You can use shrubs and trees to prevent early nesters from moving in.
Build Fences
You should not just build above-ground fencing but also build in-ground fencing. Groundhogs can climb and dig, making them a double threat. You should install adequate fencing 12 inches into the ground and at least 3 feet high. Add an electric wire 4-5 inches off the ground around the fence to strengthen your security.
Make sure your yard is groundhog clear before installing fencing. Otherwise, you’ll be trapping them in your backyard.
How To Get Rid Of Groundhogs
If it’s too late and they have already infested your yard, below are some helpful tactics to eliminate groundhogs. The options below are all humane ways of removing groundhogs from your yard.
Catch And Release
You can use a cage or humane trap to catch the groundhog, then release them far away from your neighborhood. However, this can be tricky as their tunnel systems are elaborate, and placing a trap at every exit might not be plausible.
Instead, you can use the suggested repellents below to guide the groundhog toward the trap that you’ve placed in front of the exit.
Repellents
Since groundhogs are part of the squirrel family, you can use pesticides designed for similar rodents to keep them away from your home.
Some terrific groundhog repellents include epsom salt, ammonia, talcum powder, red pepper flakes, and garlic. They’re also humane as they don’t hurt the groundhogs. Instead, they simply deter them from staying.
If you plan on using repellents, ensure there is an exit route for the groundhogs to follow out of your yard. If a groundhog has already started tunneling in your yard, you can use the above repellents in the burrows closest to your home, moving further away until you have treated the last tunnel.
You can also use motion-detecting repellents that spray water or light flashes to spook away groundhogs and other unwanted visitors in your yard.
Make Their Home Inhabitable
If homemade repellents aren’t working, you can try making their burrows inhabitable by using water or dirt. Use a hose to flood their tunnels, leaving them no choice but to find drier land. You can also fill the tunnels with dirt. However, they will most likely be able to dig it out again.
Scare Them Away
If all else fails, be the loud and noisy apartment neighbor you had in your twenties that wouldn’t let you sleep. Items like pinwheels can keep groundhogs away for a short time. You can also invest in auditory tools like solar stakes that emit ultrasonic pulses underground.
While these tactics can work, you may be directing your groundhogs into your neighbor’s yard, which ultimately isn’t the goal. Instead, using repellents to direct the groundhogs back into the woods is a preferred method for the whole neighborhood.
