The groundhog, also known as the woodchuck, is a large rodent and a member of the squirrel family, distributed widely across North America. Groundhogs spend their time foraging in open fields and along forest edges. Their diet is overwhelmingly plant-based, making them primarily herbivores despite their opportunistic nature. They must consume a substantial volume of food to fuel their active lifestyle and prepare for an extended period of winter dormancy.
Primary Herbivorous Diet: Wild Plants and Forage
The bulk of a groundhog’s daily intake consists of tender, succulent vegetation they graze on. They exhibit a distinct preference for soft stems and broad leaves, consuming a wide variety of wild plants that grow in their habitat. Common weeds such as dandelions, clover, and alfalfa form a significant part of their diet because of their widespread availability and nutritional value.
Groundhogs also actively seek out other broad-leaf plants like plantain and various wild flowers. A single mature groundhog can consume over a pound of vegetation each day. They typically do not need to drink water directly, as the moisture content in the plants they eat, along with morning dew, provides sufficient hydration.
Their preference for cultivated crops often brings them into conflict with gardeners and farmers. They are particularly fond of the leaves and tender parts of vegetables like peas, beans, carrots, and squash. This opportunistic feeding on agricultural plants is an extension of their natural inclination to consume the most tender and energy-rich vegetation available.
Supplemental and Opportunistic Foods
Although their diet is dominated by greenery, groundhogs are not strictly vegetarian and will consume non-plant items when encountered. These supplemental foods are an opportunistic component of their feeding strategy, providing necessary protein and micronutrients scarce in a purely plant-based diet. This varied intake ensures a balanced nutrient profile, particularly for pregnant or nursing females.
They occasionally forage for small invertebrates and other non-plant matter:
- Insects like grasshoppers and grubs
- Slow-moving prey such as snails
- Small birds’ eggs, if a nest is discovered
- Fungi and various types of mushrooms, especially in autumn
Pre-Hibernation Eating Habits
As summer transitions into late autumn, the groundhog’s feeding behavior undergoes a dramatic and essential shift known as hyperphagia. This period is characterized by intense, almost continuous eating, driven by the biological necessity to prepare for several months of winter hibernation. The groundhog’s focus shifts from consuming general forage to maximizing caloric and fat intake.
They begin to prioritize calorie-dense foods, such as fruits, berries, and the seeds of various plants, which provide the concentrated energy needed for fat storage. The goal is not to hoard food in their burrows, but to accumulate a thick layer of body fat before entering their long winter dormancy. Successful hibernation depends entirely on these stored reserves, which must sustain their bodily functions for months without eating or drinking.
By the time they enter their burrow for the winter, a groundhog may have doubled its body weight from its springtime low. This significant fat accumulation is the fuel source that allows their metabolic rate and body temperature to drop substantially during hibernation, ensuring their survival until spring. The intensity and timing of this pre-hibernation binge is a direct reflection of their biological survival strategy.