Tamarack Wildlife Rehabilitation & Education Center

Woodchuck (Rabies Vector Species)
Marmota monax

Woodchucks are called by many names: groundhog, whistle pig, and chuck, to name a few. As with many other species of wild animals that sometimes come in conflict with humans, the woodchuck has benefited greatly from human alterations of the landscape, especially farmlands.

Habitat: Woodchucks are associated with agricultural areas where open fields and croplands provide food and woodlots and hedgerows provide cover.

Diet: Woodchucks are herbivores and primarily eat grasses, dandelions, and clover.

Public Health Issues Associated with Woodchucks

• Woodchucks are carriers of rabies.

Problems Associated with Woodchucks

• Woodchucks will occasionally damage garden or field crops.

• Woodchucks often burrow in people’s yards.

Solutions

• Woodchucks are cautious animals. A simple change in human activity may disturb and unsettle them, discouraging their return.

• Removing the cover around burrows can cause a groundhog to feel insecure enough that it will abandon its burrow.

• Woodchucks can be driven from burrows located under houses by altering conditions so as to disturb them.

• One-way doors can be used to let woodchucks out but prevent them from re-entering. Once a woodchuck has left the burrow, close the burrow with heavy-gauge welded wire (three-inch square).

• Another option is to dump used cat litter into burrows.

• Dried blood will also discourage woodchucks.