An hour or so ago I walked out and saw a groundhog sitting in the snow in my driveway shivering. From inquiring with google it seems that they should be hibernating and not out in the winter under any circumstance. It doesn't look to be foaming at the mouth but it is mostly just sitting around or sitting under the cars shivering.
Anything else that would make it come out in the winter?
Poor fella. I see lots of groundhogs around here. Never seen one in winter.
I'd probably call animal control.
any construction / excavation going on nearby? maybe somebody woke him up all like "hey guy, berkeley your house with a bulldozer!"
1988RedT2 said:Poor fella. I see lots of groundhogs around here. Never seen one in winter.
I'd probably call animal control.
If they are like ours, they won't respond.
Better to trap it and find a nice home in the woods.
In reply to AngryCorvair (Forum Supporter) :
No construction nearby. Called the wildlife center and they said I could bring him in during hospital hours but they would be closed before I got there. He finally moved on down the road so he is someone else's problem now.
Watch your keys. They don't drive too bad for a quadruped.
BANG BANG BANG BANG
Groundhogs are cute until they start multiplying and tunneling under your house or garage foundation.
Seems that there is a canoe suggestion for the beast here.
edit- gone... :)
What's the temperature where you are? If it's recently warmed up that may be why it's awake.
It's recently much colder. Yesterday was 0-1°F in the morning and didn't get above 19.
As expected he didn't make it long. Was dead by the side of the road when I came back from dinner around 7pm.
It's very cold here right now. I'm going to bet either sick or something disturbed its home.
Poor guy.
Much like bears, they do hibernate but not like a chipmunk. They remain somewhat active. More of a stay inside and slow down instead of a full-on hibernation.
They will emerge when disturbed. Perhaps a coyote or dog started digging in their burrow and they are out looking for a new shelter... perhaps unsuccessfully. I can't imagine rabies being a possibility. He would have had to contract it before hibernation which means he would have been dead weeks ago.
I believe a large group of groundhogs or woodchuck are called a "shooting gallery", can anyone confirm this? Ross?
You'll need to log in to post.
