How Groundhogs Help Our Ecosystem
Faster to ground than a speeding fox. Able to dig a burrow in a single day. It’s a woodchuck, it’s a whistle pig—it’s a GROUNDHOG!
Though the groundhog may seem an unlikely object of attention, all eyes are on these super rodents on February 2, popularly known as Groundhog Day. But while the groundhog may not get quite as much attention the rest of the year, they are a common sight throughout most of the eastern United States and nearly all of Canada.
These large, stocky members of the squirrel family have adapted well to urban living, from wooded parks and golf courses to grassy roadway shoulders and backyard gardens. Their favorite foods include clover, dandelions, and tender vegetables, much to the chagrin of backyard gardeners. However, one can forgive their occasional garden plundering for the valuable earthmoving services they provide.
Groundhogs’ persistent digging helps till the soil, and their waste adds fertilizer. In addition, groundhog burrows provide shelter for many other animals, including rabbits, chipmunks, opossums, raccoons, and skunks. Groundhogs hibernate through the winter, so right about now they’ll be waking up—just in time for Groundhog Day!
