The groundhog, or woodchuck (Marmota monax), is the largest member of the squirrel family in North America. These stocky rodents inhabit fields, meadows, and the edges of woodlands. They are primarily diurnal and spend their active months foraging to sustain their body size and prepare for dormancy. Understanding the groundhog’s feeding habits provides insight into its ecological role and its frequent conflicts with human agriculture, as its diet is almost exclusively vegetarian.
The Groundhog’s Primary Diet
Groundhogs are nearly complete herbivores, relying on succulent wild vegetation to meet their nutritional needs. Their diet centers heavily on green, leafy plants high in moisture content, as they often obtain most of their water intake directly from the plants they consume. Preferred wild foods include common plants such as clover, alfalfa, and various wild grasses, which constitute the bulk of their forage.
They prefer tender, easily digestible leaves and stems, such as dandelions, plantain, and wild lettuce. In early spring, before many plants have matured, groundhogs consume tree bark and buds, often from hickory or maple trees, until summer growth begins. While their diet is overwhelmingly plant-based, they occasionally consume small amounts of animal matter, such as grasshoppers, grubs, or snails, but these are minor, opportunistic additions.
Seasonal Changes in Feeding
A groundhog’s feeding behavior cycles dramatically in preparation for hibernation. From late spring through mid-summer, the animals graze consistently to support their energy needs and raise their young. This behavior shifts in late summer and early autumn (August and September) as they enter a period of heightened feeding known as hyperphagia.
During this phase, the groundhog consumes large quantities of food to rapidly accumulate body fat. This fat serves as the sole energy source for their five to six months of winter hibernation. An adult groundhog can gain up to 100% of its spring body weight before entering its winter den, sometimes consuming more than a pound of vegetation in a single day. When they emerge in early spring, they rely on this remaining fat reserve until new plant growth supports consistent foraging.
Groundhogs and Cultivated Crops
Gardens and agriculture provide groundhogs with attractive, nutrient-dense food sources they readily exploit if a burrow is nearby. These opportunistic feeders find the soft leaves and fruits of cultivated plants more palatable than tough wild forage. They are particularly drawn to plants in the cabbage family, such as broccoli, cauliflower, and kale, due to their high water and sugar content.
Many common garden vegetables are targeted, including beans, peas, carrots, and lettuce. They also consume the tops of squash plants and ripe fruits like cantaloupe and berries. Because groundhogs typically forage close to their burrows, a single animal can cause significant damage to a small garden plot quickly, as cultivated crops are a concentrated and easily accessible food supply.