Fred Groundhog

202

videos: ๐Ÿ“น | Blog posts: ๐Ÿ–‹
๐Ÿพ ๐Ÿพ ๐Ÿพ ๐Ÿพ ๐Ÿพ ๐Ÿพ
#1 - under the propane tanks
#1 (b) – under the wood pile (filled in)
#2 – under the wood shed (filled in)
#3 – under the deck, 4 hols
#4 – beyond the fence, shared by skunk? 
#5 – new 2024, in the garden under the hydrangea.


Fred appeared in the spring. We've seen other Freds, but this one seemed special. One day there was a Fred Groundhog roadkill, but it wasn't our Fred. There was a meeting of two Freds one day. These are mostly videos, some are blog posts ๐Ÿ–‹.

2022


2012

I did a search on groundhogs. Most of the links include how to get rid of them! 

Groundhogs, according to National Geographic, build extensive burrows, 1.8m deep and 6 m wide.  6' - 66' long, with more than one entrance, various rooms, including a bathroom! The burrow is also called a 'cette!' 

They move an average of 275 pounds of rock and soil to build, and can climb trees, and swim. They are solitary, and hibernate. They will only roam 15 - 30 m from dens in the daytime. Herbivores, they are happy little eaters, which is why they piss off gardeners!

I was curious about their breeding habits.  I am a bit skeptical about them, as they also say that a mated pair remains in the same den for the gestation period. Babies are blind, pink and hairless, and are called pups, kits or cubs. They have 3 - 6 pups, but can have up to 10. That'll be fun. They are weaned after 44 days, however, and are solitary critters. They won't hang around. 

They are solitary beasts. They are susceptible to being roadkill. 

I'll start at the beginning. I noticed sand and large chunks of gravel between the propane tanks.

I was deeply suspicious. Gravel spilling out from between the propane tanks. 

 
June 4th
I jammed the shutters in behind, and down into the hole.
 
June 10

And I shoveled more into the hole!
June 10, morning, there was more gravel.
 
June 16, I threw some dirt and stones back in, and placed a big log on it. Look what happened Friday afternoon:
June 16, Friday afternoon, I sat with ice on my sore foot and hoped for the best.
  



No comments: