# What Do Groundhogs Eat?

> What groundhogs eat: Herbivore — grasses, clover, dandelion, and garden vegetables, foraging style, and seasonal shifts in Fields, woodland edges, and suburban areas of North America.

- **Species:** Groundhog (*Marmota monax*)
- **Conservation status:** Least Concern
- **Diet:** Herbivore — grasses, clover, dandelion, and garden vegetables
- **Habitat:** Fields, woodland edges, and suburban areas of North America
- **Lifespan:** 4–6 years in the wild (up to 14 in captivity)
- **Top speed:** Up to 16 km/h (10 mph) to burrow
- **Canonical HTML:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/groundhog/what-do-groundhog-eat/
- **Parent profile:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/groundhog/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Quick answer

The groundhog (Marmota monax) is a large ground-dwelling squirrel, or marmot, native to fields and woodland edges across much of North America. Also known as the woodchuck, it grows to about 65 cm long, weighs up to 6 kg before winter, and digs extensive burrows. Groundhogs are true hibernators, sleeping through the cold months, and live around four to six years in the wild.

## Who should skip this page

Skip this if you need a captive feeding plan from a veterinarian. This page is wild diet, not a pet-care sheet.

## Burrowing and daily life

Groundhogs are among the most accomplished diggers of the rodent world, excavating burrow systems that can run several metres long with multiple chambers and escape exits. These tunnels provide shelter for sleeping, raising young, and hiding from predators such as foxes, coyotes, and hawks. A groundhog rarely strays far from a burrow entrance and will bolt underground at up to 16 km/h (10 mph) when alarmed. Discarded burrows also become homes for rabbits, foxes, and other wildlife.

## Help protect the Groundhog

Even familiar animals lose ground as wild habitat keeps shrinking worldwide.

[Donate to wildlife protection](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/donate/)

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Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/groundhog/what-do-groundhog-eat/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.