One of the most interesting questions in wildlife conservation is when do groundhogs have their babies? The answer may surprise you! The first clue is in their behavior. While they hibernate in their burrows during the winter, groundhogs begin breeding in the spring and produce a litter of three to five babies. These little rodents stay in the dens for only a few weeks, and then they leave.
After a month of gestation, female groundhogs give birth to three to five babies. The pups are born hairless and blind, and the mother tends to them for about five weeks. They leave their den to feed and to play. At six weeks old, they can move a few yards away from the mother and start digging their own burrows. They will be able to move on their own by two months.
After birth, groundhogs become fat and heavy, preparing for hibernation. Mothers can be protective of their young, and will generally not bother humans until late fall. If you find one of these creatures in your yard, be sure to wait until late fall to relocate it. Groundhogs will not bother you until they come out of hibernation, and will probably not bother you while they are fat.
Groundhogs mate in late February or early March. This breeding season usually lasts thirty to thirty-two days. It is believed that the female groundhog will give birth to two or six babies. It is a quick process and takes only thirty to thirty-two days to give birth to a litter. The babies are blind and hairless, and grow to independence after two months. The babies grow very fast, and when they reach adulthood, they can live three to six years.
While most groundhogs burrow underground, there are instances where they climb trees to seek shelter from predators. They like to lie on large branches of trees and bask in the sunshine. They are often seen near highways, grassy areas, and median strips. If you see a groundhog, be sure to keep your distance from the burrow site so that the young don’t get smothered.
Groundhogs are not large mammals, and their babies weigh anywhere from four to fourteen pounds. They are very small, and have a stocky build. They look like they are crouching close to the ground when they move. Their body fur is long and grizzled grayish brown. In late summer, groundhogs put on a layer of fat that is used to sustain them through the winter.
If you’re wondering when groundhogs have their babies, you can use their annual migration pattern to predict when the spring will arrive. In some areas, groundhogs start emerging from their winter burrows on February 2 or later. In the east, groundhogs emerge from their burrows a bit later than the eastern half of the continent. This is still too early for spring to arrive, so groundhogs emerge in mid-February or early March.
What month do groundhog babies leave the nest?
Males have non-overlapping territories as well, though any male territory coincides with one to three mature females’ territories. 3. Baby groundhogs! Infants stick around home for only about two to three months after being born in mid-April, and then they disperse and leave mom’s burrow.
How long do baby groundhogs stay with their parents?
At about 44 days they are weaned, and can survive without mothers milk. The mother groundhog starts to move them out of her den, and before they are even 2 months old, the little groundhogs have dug their own burrows and started living alone.
Do groundhogs abandon their burrows?
Fall and Winter: From mid-October through February, groundhogs remain in their burrows as they hibernate.
Do groundhogs use the same burrow every year?
Groundhogs often have two separate burrows, one for summer (grassy field area) and one for winter (wooded area). During the approximately three month hibernation period, groundhogs enter their winter burrows which have only one entrance.
Do groundhogs stay together as a family?
Family values. In general, groundhog social groups consist of one adult male and two adult females, each with an offspring from the previous breeding season (usually female), and the current litter of infants. Interactions within a female’s group are generally friendly.
What time of year do groundhogs mate?
Groundhogs breed in their second year. The breeding season extends from early March to late April, after hibernation. A mated pair remains in the same den throughout the 32-day gestation period. The male leaves the den as birth of the young approaches, in April or May.
How do you tell male and female groundhogs apart?
The entire body and tail are covered with fur. Males and females groundhogs look similar, but the males may be slightly larger in size. Groundhogs have dense, stout bodies with short legs. Their long, curved claws are perfect for digging their underground burrows.
What time of year are baby groundhogs born?
The breeding season for groundhogs extends from early March to mid- or late April, after hibernation. A mated pair remains in the same den throughout the 31–32 day gestation period. As birth of the young approaches in April or May, the male leaves the den.
How often do groundhogs come out of their burrow?
Spring: As the days warm up, groundhogs are at their most active for two main reasons. First, hibernation ends and groundhogs emerge from their burrows in the mornings and afternoons. Second, spring marks the mating season during March and April as males seek out the burrows of nearby females.
How long do groundhogs stay with their mother?
As they mature, groundhogs will begin exploring their dens, digging and spending small amounts of time aboveground, as well as eating solid vegetation that the mother brings into the nest. The young groundhogs will stay with their mothers until they are completely weaned — approximately 44 days after they’re born.
What time of day do groundhogs come out?
Activity: Groundhogs are diurnal (active during the day) from spring to fall. Most activity occurs during the early morning and early evening hours, at which groundhogs emerge from their burrows to gather food. Hibernation: Groundhogs are true hibernators, entering a deep sleep in October and emerging in early spring.
What time are groundhogs most active?
Activity: Groundhogs are diurnal (active during the day) from spring to fall. Most activity occurs during the early morning and early evening hours, at which groundhogs emerge from their burrows to gather food. Hibernation: Groundhogs are true hibernators, entering a deep sleep in October and emerging in early spring.
How long do baby groundhogs stay with their mother?
At about 44 days they are weaned, and can survive without mothers milk. The mother groundhog starts to move them out of her den, and before they are even 2 months old, the little groundhogs have dug their own burrows and started living alone.
How many babies do groundhogs have at once?
Groundhog mating season is in the early spring and, after only a month-long pregnancy, mother groundhogs typically give birth to a litter of two to six blind, hairless babies.J
