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Woodchuck (Marmota monax) |
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Woodchuck is known by a variety of terms, including groundhog,
whistlepig even gopher.
Plants woodchucks have eaten (as told to us by our visitors) We would love to know what woodchucks have eaten in your garden. We would also like to know the scientific names of the these plants as well. Please feel free to contact us if you have comments on these or any other plant you have noticed damage from Woodchucks or resistance to woodchucks. Webmaster Plants Woodchucks Have Eaten
Possible Resistance to Chucks.
University PublicationsManaging Woodchuck Problems in Missouri--University of Missouri HTML Managing Woodchucks--University of Kentucky HTML Woodchucks--Perdue University PDF
Burrow fumigants, traps and shooting provide the first level of control in large field situations. Small acreage and garden owners may first attempt exclusion. F Scarecrows and other effigies can provide temporary relief if woodchucks are not used to people. T Trapping can be used as an alternative to burrow fumigation. Use No. 2 or larger steel foot hold traps or box traps at burrow entrances or in animal travel lanes. Use guide sticks or fences to funnel animals. Bait with fresh apple slices, carrots or lettuce. L Many states consider woodchucks a legal game animal and a valid state game license is required. If legal, use .22 caliper centerfire rifles with telescopic sights. if legal, and at ranges within 25 yards, one might use a 12-gauge shotgun with No. 4 or No. 6 shot. Aluminum phosphidet tablets may be legal as a burrow fumigant. Use as per label. Body grip kill traps (IE Conibear #'s 110, 160, and 220) , if legal, can be an alternative to fumigants under structures. Can use unbaited in woodchuck travel lanes or at main burrow entrances. E Use heavy wire 2-inch mesh fences at least 3 feet high, bending the lower edge outward and burying 1 to 2 inches below ground. Alternatively, bury the fence to a one-foot depth. At the top, use an electrified wire or bend the top 15 inches outward to 45 degrees to prevent climbing. Damage eat alfalfa, soybeans, vegetables. Gnaw or claw trunks and stems; outdoor tubing, wiring.
Hoary Marmot Attributes Can climb Does Hibernate Is Diurnal Signs Large burrow openings of 8 to 12 inches with mounds of dirt. Trails and trampled areas in crops and pastures. These "ground hogs" or "whistle pigs" are usually grizzled brownish gray, chunky 5 to 10 pound animals with short tails. When startled, they produce a low "tchuck, tchuck" followed by a shrill whistle. They may run slowly into burrows, usually within 150 feet away. Occasionally they bask in sun on low lying walls, rocks or logs. They are good climbers. Tree Damage Fruit trees and ornamental shrubs Lawn Damage Mounds and burrows can damage lawns and turf. Structural Damage Occasionally, their burrowing can weaken dikes and foundations. Also, they can gnaw on undergroud power cables and utility lines, rubber hoses in parked vehicles. Agricultural Damage Woodchucks are a type of marmot that live in theopen farmlands, fields, and pastures of the northeastern U.S. and Canada. They have recently extended their range to west of the Missouri River. They feed on alfalfa, clovers, fruit tree and ornamental shrubs, soybeans, beans, squash, peas, and other garden plants. Their mounds can slow or damage mnechanical harvesting equipment. Health Hazard A similar species, the Yellow-bellied marmot, of the Rocky Mountain states, is a host for the tick that transmits Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. Safety Hazard Occasionally prized livestock may mistep into woodchuck burrows and injure themselves. Toe Pad Marks on Hind Feet five Heel Pad Marks up to 3 inches wide X 4 inches long including long claws Claw Marks Yes |
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NEBRASKAland
Magazine/Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Photo
Body
gripping traps