In the state of Michigan, it is unlawful to use poison baits to control woodchucks and groundhogs. Shooting them is also not a great option, so the best way to handle these critters is to live trap them. They are very crafty and can be dangerous if you get too close, so a professional wildlife control team such as Solidified Pest Control would be your best bet.

In regards to their life cycle, woodchucks mate in the spring. Their gestation period is between 28-32 days, and shortly after this the mother will produce her annual litter of up to five babies. They reach adulthood after a year, and after their first hibernation, they’ll set off on their own to find food. Hibernation is four to five months in the cold, and they wake up in the spring from their internal alarm clocks. They can live up to 10 years in the wild, reproducing every year.

Woodchucks utilize a burrow and den system for their nests. They are very clean animals, changing out their bedding and nest materials frequently. Their burrows can be up to 30 feet long with compartments throughout and openings at each end. During the day, woodchucks will raid gardens for food, as well as transport materials to keep the burrows clean. They are constantly eating, consuming up to 1-½ pounds of food per day. They’re rather mean animals, and picking fights with people or dogs is very common.

The world’s most famous woodchuck is Punxsutawney Phil, who emerges from his burrow each year to be our weather predictor for the upcoming season. Phil’s keepers let him snack on dog food, ice cream and whatever else he wants, in hopes that he’ll bring warm weather. The Groundhog Pope translates Phil’s prediction and announces to the country how many more weeks of winter we have.

If you need a woodchuck humanely removed from your property, contact the experts at Solidified Pest Control today!