Groundhogs, also known as woodchucks, are not native to Florida. These burrowing rodents (Marmota monax) are found across a wide geographical range in North America. Florida’s climate and ecosystems do not support the specific environmental needs of groundhogs, so they are not found in the wild there.
Where Groundhogs Live
Groundhogs are lowland animals, preferring open country and the edges of woodlands. Their distribution spans much of the Eastern United States, Canada, and Alaska, reaching as far south as Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, and Arkansas. These rodents typically inhabit small woodlots, open fields, meadows, pastures, and hedgerows. They construct extensive burrows in well-drained soil, which serve as their primary shelter for sleeping, raising young, and hibernating.
Groundhogs hibernate, entering a deep sleep from late fall to early spring for up to six months. During this period, their body temperature drops and heart rate slows, allowing them to survive on stored fat reserves. They are primarily herbivorous, consuming wild grasses, other vegetation, berries, and agricultural crops. Groundhogs are mostly diurnal, active during the early morning and late afternoon, and are known for their alarm whistle.
Animals Often Mistaken for Groundhogs in Florida
While groundhogs are absent from Florida, several other burrowing animals commonly reside there and might be mistaken for them. The Southeastern pocket gopher (Geomys pinetis) is native to sandy soils in Florida, Georgia, and Alabama. These rodents are smaller than groundhogs and are rarely seen above ground, spending most of their lives in extensive tunnel systems. Unlike groundhogs, pocket gophers possess external, fur-lined cheek pouches for carrying food and primarily feed on roots, tubers, and other underground plant parts.
Another burrowing animal in Florida is the nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus). Armadillos are distinctive for their leathery, armored shell and long, tapering snout. They are omnivores, primarily consuming insects and invertebrates, and are mostly nocturnal, foraging by digging shallow holes with their strong claws. These animals are widespread in Florida, preferring forested or semi-open habitats with loose soil.
The gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) is also a prominent burrowing species in Florida, but it is a reptile, not a mammal. These tortoises are known for their shovel-like forelimbs and elephantine hind legs, which they use to dig burrows that can extend up to 40 feet long and 10 feet deep. Gopher tortoises are herbivores, primarily eating herbaceous plants, and are a keystone species, as their burrows provide shelter for many other animals.
Eastern gray squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) are common throughout Florida. While primarily arboreal, they can sometimes be seen foraging on the ground, which can lead to confusion with larger ground-dwelling rodents. These squirrels are much smaller than groundhogs and are recognized by their bushy tails.