If you’re asking what do groundhogs eat, chances are, it’s for one of four reasons:
- You’re wondering if groundhogs are eating your garden plants
- You know groundhogs are eating your garden plants and your want to trap them.
- You’ve rescued an injured or baby groundhog and want to help it.
- You love wild animals, have seen some around and want to feed them.
Since this is a gardening website, chances are that most readers are anguishing over plant destruction. That’s what happened to us. But before we get into all the many things groundhogs eat, here’s a brief introduction to these cute critters.
What Are Groundhogs?
Groundhogs, also known as woodchucks, are herbivores that primarily consume a vast variety of plants. Residing mostly in North America, these critters have an adaptable diet that varies depending on the season and their habitat.
Groundhogs Devoured Our Entire Garden
We lost 90% of our garden vegetables this year. And yes, as you will see on the video below, we had at least two groundhogs in the garden in the broad daylight when no one was there. Although they have been precocious enough to be circling the garden in daylight even when people were home.
What Groundhogs Ate in Our Garden
- amaranth plants
- bean leaves, cucumber leaves,
- beet leaves
- okra leave
- parsley
- potato leaves
- squash leaves
- sunflower plants
- sweet potato leaves
- tomatoes – green & red
So What Else Do Groundhogs Eat?
Groundhog will eat pretty much anything you’re growing in the garden, but here are some of the most common groundhog foods as well as more specific foods in different circumstances.
List of Groundhogs Favorite Foods
- Alfalfa
- Bananas
- Beans
- Berries & berry leaves
- Cantaloupe
- Carrots
- Clover
- Dandelions
- Flowers (such as pansies and sunflowers)
- Grasses
- Leaves of veggie plants
- Lettuce
- Peas
- Tree bark
- Vegetables – almost every garden vegetable you grow, including the
Garden Vegetables Groundhogs Like to Eat
| Alfalfa | Green tomatoes | Parsley |
| Amaranth plants | Grasses | Peas |
| Bean leaves | Lettuce | Potato leaves |
| Beet leaves | Okra leaves | Squash leaves |
| Broccoli | Sunflower plants | Sweet potatoes & leaves |
| Carrots | Dandelions | Cucumber leaves |
| Clover |
What Do Groundhogs Eat to Trap Them?
When attempting to trap groundhogs, it’s essential to use bait that appeals to their natural preferences. Common baits include:
- Fresh vegetables like beans, broccoli, and carrots.
- Fruits such as apples, bananas & strawberries.
See more on best groundhog bait here.
What Do Groundhogs Eat in the Wild?
In their natural habitat, groundhogs feast on:
- Berries & berry leaves
- Crab apples
- Clover
- Grasses
- Tree bark (during harder times or for variety)
- Vegetation
- Wild flowers
- Wild Violets
Weeds Groundhogs Eat
While groundhogs consuming weeds might be helpful, they’re not discerning creatures. Your prized plants and your weeds are equally appealing. But here’s a list of common weeds consumed by groundhogs.
- Chickweed (Stellaria media): A low-growing, flowering plant often found in gardens and yards.
- Plantain (Plantago major): A common weed with broad leaves, often found in lawns and gardens.
- Lamb’s Quarters (Chenopodium album): Often considered a weed, this plant is related to spinach and beet and can be found in gardens and fields.
- Bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis): A vine-like weed that can be quite invasive in gardens.
- Sorrel (Rumex acetosa): This weed has a tangy, lemony flavor and is found in fields and gardens.
- Ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia): Common in fields and gardens, this weed is known to cause allergies in many people.
- Clovers: While often desired in some settings for their soil-enriching qualities, in others, clover might be considered a weed.
- Wild Mustard: A common weed in gardens and fields.
- Wild Violets: Groundhogs eat the leaves and flowers of these delicacies.
- Thistles: Though prickly and often avoided by many herbivores, some groundhogs might nibble on them occasionally.
While having a groundhog might assist in controlling these weeds to some extent, it’s also worth noting that they can cause other issues. Groundhogs dig burrows, which can be a problem in gardens or yards, as these burrows can be extensive. Additionally, while they eat weeds, they also have a taste for many garden vegetables and flowers, as previously mentioned.
If someone is considering using groundhogs as a form of weed control, it would be essential to weigh the benefits of weed reduction against the potential challenges they might introduce.
