General Characteristics:
- The woodchuck, also known as the groundhog, is common throughout North America
- Weight is from 4-14 pounds
- Short hair, brownish/grayish in colour
- Front feet have four clawed toes on each foot, while its rear feet have five toes on each
- Being an herbivore it feeds on various grasses, alfalfa, clover and other types of vegetation
- Hibernates from mid-October to February
Reproduction:
- They mate in the spring
- single litter of 4-6 young
- lifespan of 4-6 years
- young leave nest in early June
Signs of Infestation:
- Woodchucks are found in open fields, woodlots, cultivated areas, railroad embankments, fencerows, roadsides, patios, garages etc…
- Just one or two could devastate a small garden in one night of activity
- They usually burrow to a depth of 2-4 feet underground with the tunnel extending 15 -30 feet in length, with the main nest at the end of the tunnel system
Control Techniques:
- Exclusion can sometimes be effective using hardware cloth and/or fencing dug into the ground 2-4 feet and raised off the ground the same distance
Other control methods include:
- Barrier Trenches
- Live Trapping
- Flooding
- Fumigation
Please click here to contact a Focus Pest Control professional to inquire about further treatments for this pest species.
References:
Benett, Gary W., et.al.. Truman’s Scientific Guide to Pest Control Operations. Duluth: Advanstar
Communications, 1988. Pp. 369-370.
Disclaimer:
The Focus Pest Control ‘Pest Library’ is an educational resource written largely to educate the general public about common pests in Ontario. The Focus ‘Pest Library’ does not include all species in Ontario, nor does it include the most recent scientific data about species we describe. Though we edit our accounts for accuracy, we cannot guarantee all information in those accounts. While Focus Pest Control staff and contributors provide references to books and websites that we believe are reputable, we cannot necessarily endorse the contents of references beyond our control.
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