Groundhogs, also known as woodchucks, are large rodents common across North America. Their presence on private property often leads to substantial damage due to extensive burrowing habits, which can undermine structural integrity and create significant safety concerns. While a single groundhog may seem like a minor nuisance, their activities range from the complete destruction of cultivated plants to the costly destabilization of man-made structures.
Destruction of Gardens and Landscaping
Groundhogs are herbivores with voracious appetites, often consuming a pound or more of vegetation daily during their active months. This high-volume feeding concentrates on tender, cultivated plants, resulting in the rapid loss of garden yields. They strongly prefer common garden vegetables, including leafy greens, beans, peas, carrots, and squash, frequently consuming entire seedlings before they can establish themselves.
The damage extends beyond consumption. Groundhogs often trample large sections of an area to reach their preferred food source, creating noticeable paths of destruction. They also possess a constant need to gnaw to wear down their continuously growing incisor teeth, a behavior that impacts woody plants. They strip the bark from the trunks of young trees and ornamental shrubs, especially in the spring, which can girdle the plant and lead to its death. This chewing activity can also affect non-plant items, with gnawing marks found on wooden decks, siding, and outdoor furniture.
Hazards from Extensive Burrow Systems
The most significant property damage caused by groundhogs results from the size and complexity of their subterranean homes. A single burrow system can extend up to 60 feet in length and reach depths of three to six feet below the surface. These extensive networks often feature multiple entrances, which are wide openings, typically resembling the size of a melon and often hidden beneath vegetation.
The open burrow entrances and underlying tunnels create a significant physical hazard in open areas like lawns, pastures, and fields. People or pets can suffer serious injury if they accidentally step into a concealed hole. Furthermore, the destabilized ground poses a danger to motorized equipment, as the collapse of a tunnel beneath a lawnmower or tractor can cause the machine to overturn or be damaged. The excavation process also leaves large mounds of displaced soil, known as “spoil piles,” near the main entrance, which disrupt the turf’s uniformity.
Compromising Foundations and Underground Infrastructure
When groundhogs burrow near human-built structures, the resulting damage can be severe and costly. They often select sites beneath porches, patios, sheds, and decks because these structures provide natural overhead cover and stability for the burrow system. Tunneling in these locations removes the underlying soil that supports the structure, leading to erosion and the creation of voids.
This undermining of support can cause the structure to settle unevenly, resulting in cracked concrete slabs, shifting foundations, and sagging decks. The burrow network also acts as an unintended drainage system, redirecting rainwater and groundwater toward the foundation. This influx of moisture can lead to basement leaks and accelerate erosion, compromising the structural integrity of the building.
Groundhogs also pose a risk to underground infrastructure. Their digging can destabilize the earth surrounding buried utility lines. Furthermore, their powerful teeth have been known to chew through irrigation pipes and electrical conduits, causing disruptions and hazards.