Groundhogs are common and widespread residents across Wisconsin. This large rodent is an established part of the natural environment, often inhabiting areas close to human development and agriculture. They are found in nearly every county, adapting well to the state’s diverse landscape. They are a constant feature of the Wisconsin outdoors, especially visible during the warmer months.
Woodchuck Presence and Nomenclature
The animal known as the groundhog (Marmota monax) is most frequently called the woodchuck in Wisconsin. These two common names refer to the exact same species, which is the largest member of the squirrel family in the state. The woodchuck is widely distributed, thriving in rural, agricultural, and suburban environments. Their population has benefited greatly from the clearing of forests, which created the open-field habitats they favor. They are a familiar sight from the southern borders up to the northern forests.
Habitat and Life Cycle in Wisconsin
Woodchucks prefer open areas bordered by protective cover, such as hay fields, pastures, and the edges of woodlots, where they access food and safety. They are accomplished burrowers, creating extensive underground tunnel systems that can reach up to 60 feet in length and five feet in depth. These complex burrows often feature multiple entrances, including a main entrance marked by a mound of excavated dirt and a less visible escape hole. They are strictly herbivorous, with their diet consisting of succulent plants like clover, alfalfa, dandelion, and various grasses.
As one of the few true hibernators in Wisconsin, the woodchuck undergoes deep dormancy to survive the cold winter. They typically enter hibernation in October or November, relying solely on accumulated body fat reserves. Their body temperature drops significantly, and their heart rate slows drastically until they emerge in the spring, usually around March or early April. Mating occurs shortly after they wake. Females give birth to a litter of two to six young, called kits, in an underground nest chamber. The young are weaned and disperse from the maternal burrow by mid-July, establishing their own territories before the next hibernation cycle.
Managing Interactions and Nuisance
The extensive burrowing habits and voracious appetite of woodchucks lead to significant conflict with landowners. Their tunnels can undermine building foundations, driveways, and sidewalks, sometimes causing structural damage. In farm fields, burrows pose a hazard to livestock, which may step into a hole and suffer injury, and can also damage agricultural equipment. Damage to vegetable gardens and commercial crops like alfalfa and corn can also be substantial, as a single animal consumes a considerable amount of vegetation daily.
To prevent burrowing near structures, exclusion through fencing is one of the most effective non-lethal methods. A successful woodchuck fence must be at least four feet high and constructed of heavy-gauge wire mesh. This mesh must be buried 10 to 12 inches below the ground, with the bottom flared outward in an “L” shape. Habitat modification, such as removing cover near gardens, can also discourage den establishment. Since woodchucks are not a protected species in Wisconsin, landowners may legally shoot or trap them year-round on their property to resolve nuisance issues.