Woodchuck wildlife ecology and damage management uw. Burrows provide a form of shelter against predation and exposure to the elements and can be found in nearly every biome and among various biological interactions. Back when most nh people relied on horses, woodchucks were scorned because their hidden holes. A hole in the ground can be ominous since you just never know what is sleeping inside.
Shooting and fumigating woodchuck burrows can be implemented as a last resort basis. Fresh dirt at the entrance of a hole 8 to 12 inches in diameter usually indicates an active burrow as woodchucks regularly clean out their dens. However, motorized vehicles kill many groundhogs each year. If you have not seen or heard any groundhogs inside the space, block the entry point with something that a groundhog could easily move, such as a thin piece of paper taped loosely over the hole, or a scrunched up piece of paper placed inside the hole. It will mercilessly eat the plants in your garden until theres nothing left and will make holes all over your yard. It was first scientifically described by carl linnaeus in 1758. Make sure that any fencing used to keep woodchucks out is buried at least 18 inches under the ground. When populations surge, woodchucks will damage crops and food plots. Long curved claws enable this animal to be an excellent digger. Farmers, gardeners, and other property owners consider the woodchuck and its tunnels a nuisance. They mow down many garden plants, and dig burrows which dry out the roots of trees. I have a cuddeback attack camera set on a woodchuck burrow in my backyard. Woodchuck woodchuck or groundhog marmota monax size.
However, their burrows can result in the undermining or weakening of foundations, driveways and rock walls. In these cases it is best to try and harass the woodchucks out, and then permanently exclude them from getting back into the burrow. Eaton, extension specialist, entomology woodchucks frequently damage plants in nh home grounds and gardens. Summer burrows feature multiple openings that are about 10 to 12 inches in diameter and. Kanban from the inside mike burrows pdf ebook digital. Groundhog filmed outside deep burrow observing the woodchuck in nature. Burrows commonly are located in fields and pastures, along fence rows, stone walls, roadsides, and near building foundations or the bases of trees. Dig down a bit and use fencing to guide the woodchuck into the trap. Adults rarely move more than a half mile within their home ranges, prefer ring to stick close to the safety of the burrow. How to get rid of groundhogs groundhog removal havahart. In cropping areas, woodchucks consume soybeans, corn and alfalfa. The extensive burrowing activi ties of woodchucks in fields can interfere with farm opera.
Some move about on the surface of the ground, while others keep to. In general, woodchucks prefer open farmland and the surrounding wooded or brushy areas adjacent to open land. Though they primarily live along the east coast and into the midwest, woodchucks also inhabit areas further south and as far north as alaska. Keep reading for more groundhog woodchuck facts, and to learn how to get rid of groundhogs. Groundhogs burrowing in your yard toronto wildlife centre. The burrow is a set of tunnels and chambers that the woodchuck excavates underground. Woodchucks have long been a problem for farmers and weekend gardeners. The summer burrow is generally larger and in an open area, whereas. Woodchucks are grizzled brown on the top part of their coat, some with blackish or rufous tones and they are buffy below.
Others choose to observe the holiday itself, february 2 observed traditionally as a day that. Its forefeet have long, curved claws that are adapted for digging ground burrows where it seeks refuge and hibernates during winter months. Burrows are often located in embankments, field edges or under sheds, barns, or other building s. Sciuridae the woodchuck or groundhog is the largest member of the squirrel family in the adirondacks and has grizzled, coarse fur. Woodchucks range in size from 20 to 27 long, excluding the tail, weighing 5 to 12 lbs. The primary predators of groundhogs are hawks, foxes, coyotes, bobcats, dogs and humans.
Burrow construction and woodchuck movements an understanding of burrow construction and of the movement of woodchucks within and around crop ields is important for effective control programs. Woodchuck college of environmental science and forestry. The imagery of a woodchuck is used in robert frosts. How to get rid of groundhogs humanely the best way to get rid of groundhogs, also known as woodchucks, is with an integrated control plan that includes trapping, repelling and excluding. For some this is the practice of watching the 1993 harold ramis film groundhog day, in which bill murray portrays a meteorologist who must endure a seemingly endless repetition of the titular holiday. As always, it is important to consider safety precautions. Farmers have wide open areas where they can practice woodchuck control by shooting. Woodchucks are burrowing members of the squirrel family, which includes tree squirrels, flying squirrels, and chipmunks. The spatial distribution of these burrows was fitted by a negative binomial. Part of the clustering in this distribution resulted from preferences for steep slopes and welldrained soils. Groundhogs excavate their own holes or burrows within minutes. The groundhog marmota monax, also known as a woodchuck, is a rodent of the family sciuridae, belonging to the group of large ground squirrels known as marmots. Every year, on the second day of february, a beloved american tradition is widely observed.
The life span of a woodchuck is about 3 to 6 years. The animal just walks out of its burrow and into the trap. In general, woodchucks prefer to construct their burrows in open. Where woodchuck burrows are deemed to be problems, eviction and exclusion are the recommended courses of action. They live in burrows dug straight down into the earth.
Animal damage management purdue extension entomology. They dig extensive burrows which are often used by other wildlife after the woodchuck has moved on. Specifically, they inhabit certain parts of alaska, southern canada, and the. Woodchuck burrows can sometimes cause problems for homeowners if they are under buildings or too close to gardens. Many different animal species are known to form burrows. Posted dec 19, 2017 woodchucks took over as the largest rodents on. Adults often seen basking in the sun, in a grassy area, on a fence post, stone wall, large rock, or fallen log always near its burrow. Woodchucks have become staten islands second largest. Although groundhogs are slow runners, they scurry quickly to their dens when they sense danger. The last part, monax is an american indian name for this rodent and means the digger. Burrows are almost always found in or near open, grassy meadows or fields. I set myself the task of describing the humane, start with what you do now approach to change not as a productivity tool, but as a management method built around a strong framework of valuesa way to help organizations work better for their people, their customers, and other stakeholders. There are fourclawed toes on each front foot and ive toes on the hind feet.
It was hypothesized that if any biological need, other than a suitable burrow site, was satisfied by the clustering, then interburrow movements would be less. A wisconsin study found 20 different species associated with woodchuck burrows. Dealing with woodchuck damage unh extension university of. Woodchucks dig burrows several feet deep and up to 30 feet long, and they live there alone. Spring is the best time for control, when the adults are active but before the young are born. Woodchuck prevention tips from big blue bug solutions preventing woodchucks from choosing your property is a difficult task, however, exclusion is the best way to prevent a woodchuck infestation. Groundhogs, also known as woodchucks, construct two different types of burrows. Adm16w animal damage management extension entomology. This distance may vary, however, during the mating season or based on the availability of food. A groundhog marmota monaxotherwise known as a woodchuck, land beaver, or whistle pigis a rodent. Woodchuck burrows are distinguished by a large mound of fresh dirt near the main entrance of the burrow. Woodchucks frequently damage plants in nh home grounds and gardens. Best practices for nuisance wildlife control operators. However, such control measures are not an option when woodchucks move into residential.
Wildlife damage management fact sheet series woo dchucks. Rabbits, opossums, raccoons, and skunks may use part of the burrow while the woodchuck is hibernating. A woodchuck cage trap is baited with fruits and vegetables. Observing the woodchuck entering the burrow before fumigating is best.
To successfully control woodchuck populations you must have an integrated pest management plan. The body fur is long, coarse, and grizzled grayishbrown in color. What to do about woodchucks the humane society of the. Woodchucks can be harried from burrows by harassment assaulting the animals senses, or by disturbing the burrow system. Woodchucks will often have different burrows for summer and winter use. Mike burrows, author kanban from the inside takes a distinctive approach to the kanban method. Here are some clips of other species captured by the camera. Woodchuck burrows will have a large opening about 10 to 12 inches across, with a raised mound of dirt. Woodchucks woodchucks, also known as groundhogs or whistlepigs are a commonly seen species near human development. Trap placement elsewhere is much less effective, but sometimes the woodchuck can be enticed inside.
Woodchucks wisconsin department of natural resources. They also gnaw the bark of fruit trees and ornamental shrubs, sometimes killing them. The main shaft may be up to 50 feet in length, with many side passages. The groundhog shown in the movie groundhog day looks like a cute little creature, but, in reality, theres nothing cute about these animals. Occasional sharp whistles and low churrs, given at times of danger. Training information for wildlife control operators. The woodchuck is a stocky animal weighing between 4 and 14 pounds and having short, powerful legs, small ears and a short, bushy tail. The mounds of dirt from excavated burrows, and holes at the entrance of burrows, are unsightly and can be hazardous to humans. Its also easier to see the burrows then, and other animals are less likely to be inside. Woodchucks dig burrows, which they use to bear and. The first part, marmota, is the latin word for marmot, the name given to the european marmot or the north american marmot, which is a close relative of the woodchuck. State university of new york, college of environmental science and forestry. The woodchuck is a semifossorial occupant of forest borders, favoring the edge of brushy woodland, especially along fields, roads, and streams.
As diurnal animals, woodchucks spend several hours a day feeding above ground before returning underground to their protected burrows. However, there is only a small window of time in the year when this can be done humanely, so timing is crucial. The groundhog is also referred to as a chuck, woodshock, groundpig, whistlepig, whistler, thickwood badger, canada marmot, monax, moonack, weenusk, red monk and, among. In this quick tutorial youll learn how to draw a woodchuck in just a few quick steps, but first woodchucks, also known as groundhogs, are rodents that are native to north america. Summer burrows feature multiple openings that are about 10 to 12 inches in diameter and situated about 20 feet away from each other. A burrow is a hole or tunnel excavated into the ground by an animal to create a space suitable for habitation, temporary refuge, or as a byproduct of locomotion. Its short, stocky appearance gives the impression that the woodchuck. Not reinforced any trap that has similar specifications may be considered a bmp trap regardless of brand. Woodchuck burrows provide shelter to several species. Too often, only temporary control is achieved because the number of active burrows andor the number of woodchucks within a ield and. Every february 2 is ground hog day, whenso the superstition goesif a ground hog stepping out of its burrow sees. Repellents can be used to prevent feeding on plants and woody structures. Mice and voles live in nearly every type of habitat, from rocky slopes in forested mountains and low boggy meadows to urban streets and inside peoples houses.
Burrows are a critical feature of their lifestyle, and typically include multiple entrances. Their ecology and control the woodchuck marmot monaxa is a commo largn e rodent found throughout wisconsin othe. Although woodchucks are often considered nuisance wildlife, they do provide some benefits. Groundhog filmed outside deep burrow observing the. If a woodchuck is inside, it will come out to feed during this period. Woodchuck burrow distribution and related movement patterns. Woodchucks have become staten islands second largest rodents updated mar 03, 2019. Burrows are constructed beneath rocks, stumps, building foundations, or other supportive structures. Woodchuck, ground hogs information wildlife busters. Their burrows are used by many other species of wildlife, such as rabbits, opossums, raccoons, skunks, foxes. The woodchuck ground hog the woodchuck marmota monax, also known as the ground hog, may be the only wild animal that has its own day. Luckily, woodchuck burrows have some distinctive characteristics that will allow you to identify them. The woodchuck has a compact, chunky body supported by relatively short, strong legs. Woodchucks usually pile up a mound of dirt and rocks at the burrow entrance, but the entry may otherwise be wellconcealed.
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