What Do Woodchucks Eat?
A woodchuck is a large rodent that goes by many names. In addition to being called groundhogs, woodchucks are also known as Canada marmots and whistle pigs. They are called whistle pigs because they make a high-pitched sound by forcing air through their teeth. They do this to warn other woodchucks of predators or other dangers.
Woodchucks belong to the Sciuridae family, which also includes squirrels, chipmunks, and prairie dogs, among others. Woodchucks live in Canada and throughout the eastern half of the United States. They build their burrows in woodlands, meadows, and fields. These mammals are highly skilled at finding food in almost any environment. Keep reading to discover what a woodchuck eats and how it finds its food.
What Does a Woodchuck Eat?
Woodchucks are primarily herbivores, and plant life makes up the majority of a woodchuck’s diet. They eat plant life such as alfalfa, grass hay, clover, and chickweed, along with various types of fruits, vegetables, and wildflowers. Woodchucks also eat shrubs, tree bark, woody stems, and certain types of leaves, such as mulberry leaves. However, when plant life is scarce, woodchucks may eat grasshoppers, grubs, June bugs, and other insects. They also sometimes eat bird eggs.
The following list includes foods that a woodchuck eats:
- Plant life such as alfalfa, grass hay, clover, and chickweed
- Herbaceous shrubs
- Tree bark, leaves, and woody stems
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Flowers
- Insects, including June bugs, grubs, grasshoppers, and snails
- Bird eggs
What Do Woodchucks Eat in the Garden?
While woodchucks eat items in their woodland or meadow habitats, they also visit backyard gardens in search of the fruits and vegetables they love. Not surprisingly, many people with backyard gardens do all they can to prevent woodchucks from eating their vegetables and fruits.
Woodchucks are also fond of flower gardens. They eat all kinds of flowers, which can certainly take a toll on a flourishing backyard flower garden. Woodchucks can be aggressive animals that are difficult to remove once they invade your property. These rodents usually dig burrows in grassy areas and eat through gardens, causing significant damage. The following lists detail some of the foods woodchucks eat, organized by category:
Vegetables:
- Kale
- Lettuce
- Cucumbers
- Carrots
- Corn
- Onions
- Peppers
- Peas
- Beans
Fruit:
- Berries
- Tomatoes
- Watermelons
- Strawberries
- Pumpkins
- Apricots
- Apples
Flowers:
- Impatiens
- Hydrangeas
- Daisies
- Sunflowers
- Marigolds
- Peonies
- Geraniums
How Do Woodchucks Find Food?
As woodchucks have a mostly herbivorous diet, they forage for their food. They generally feed in the early morning and evening. They are excellent climbers, so they can frequently be found climbing and gnawing on trees. They are often found foraging in open fields, pastures, orchards, backyard gardens, nurseries, and meadows.
When plants, fruits, and vegetables are not easily accessible in their habitat, woodchucks may hunt for small insects. They capture grasshoppers and snails by grasping them with their claws. They also use their excellent digging skills to find grubs underground. They feed on June bugs and other insects they find while tearing off pieces of tree bark to eat. Woodchucks hibernate during the winter months, so they rely on their fat reserves from around October through March.
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