Quick answer
Groundhogs feed on herbivore — grasses, clover, dandelion, and garden vegetables, adjusting seasonally based on local habitat and prey or plant availability.
Diet overview
Groundhogs are mammals that rely on herbivore — grasses, clover, dandelion, and garden vegetables. The groundhog — also called woodchuck — is a burrowing marmot famous for Groundhog Day folklore across North America. Weighing about 5 kg, living roughly 6 years, and reaching 16 km/h, it hibernates up to eight months with heart rate dropping to five beats per minute.
Feeding behaviour
Foraging strategy varies by season. Groundhogs may hunt, graze, filter-feed, or scavenge depending on ecology.
Role in the food web
As mammals, they interact with predators, prey, and competitors across their range.
Human-related feeding risks
Never feed wild groundhogs — it habituates animals to people and can spread disease.
Sources
FAQs
What do groundhogs eat?
Herbivore — grasses, clover, dandelion, and garden vegetables.
Are groundhogs carnivores or herbivores?
Their diet is best described as: herbivore — grasses, clover, dandelion, and garden vegetables.
Do groundhogs change diet seasonally?
Yes — many species shift food sources as seasons and prey abundance change.
Can I feed wild groundhogs?
No — feeding wild animals is unsafe and often illegal.