FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. — Whether Pennsylvania’s most famous groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, saw his shadow or not this year — for the record, he did — the temperatures in Missouri are warming up and that means Fort Leonard Wood’s groundhogs are waking up.
Jeff Pebworth, wildlife biologist with the Directorate of Public Works Environmental Division, said groundhogs are considered common throughout the state of Missouri, and they play an important role in the environment on post.
Groundhogs are what’s called a keystone species, which means they have a disproportionately large impact on their environment compared to their size, Pebworth explained.
“They are identified as habitat engineers because of their burrowing nature that provides habitat for many other species of wildlife such as rabbits, foxes, skunks, opossums, snakes and amphibians,” he said. “Their burrowing also brings subsoil to the surface which helps improve soil fertility and aeration.”
Groundhogs belong to a large group of ground squirrels called marmots, and they’re known by a few different names, Pebworth noted.
“The groundhog is the largest member of the squirrel family in the U.S.,” he said. “They are also known as woodchucks and whistle pigs.”
According to Pebworth, groundhogs have a large range of variability in weight, which can be anywhere from 4 to 14 pounds. They have short legs, stocky bodies and can be up to 27 inches in length.
“They have grizzled gray-brown fur, often with an orange or yellowish cast. They also have a medium-length bushy tail that is flattened and long claws for digging,” Pebworth said. “They are sometimes mistaken for gophers, muskrats, badgers or beavers, although there are distinct differences.”
Groundhogs are one of the few species that go into true hibernation, according to the wildlife biologist.
“They eat large amounts of food in preparation and may increase their weight by 100 percent due to fat storage. Other members of the squirrel family usually store food for the winter,” Pebworth said.
They start emerging from hibernation about this time of year, he added. They can be found living on the edge of wooded and open areas, along fencerows, streams and heavily vegetated gullies.
“Because of the large open green areas with buildings substituting for rocky areas in their natural habitat, they have taken up residence within the cantonment,” Pebworth said. “They are one of the only medium-size mammals that feeds primarily during the day, therefore they are highly visible in the urban areas.”
For that reason, Pebworth said groundhogs are a favorite for wildlife enthusiasts on post.
“Because of their daytime activity, they increase the quality of life for many people that like to see wildlife,” he explained.
Wildlife watchers on post should keep their eyes open for baby groundhogs in the next couple of months, according to Pebworth, as mating season begins soon after they emerge from hibernation.
“Gestation is 31 to 33 days, with two to nine young being born around the end of March. The young start emerging from the burrows at about six to seven weeks of age,” Pebworth said.
Kenton Lohraff, chief of the Natural Resources Branch of DPW Environmental Division, said people might actually want to look — up — to see ground hogs.
“They can climb trees,” Lohraff said. “Occasionally, they’ll show off their arboreal skills by climbing way up on tree branches.”
Groundhogs usually eat up to a third of their weight in food per day and are almost exclusively vegetarian, eating a large variety of grasses and broad leaf species, which may include leaves, stems, flowers and seeds, according to Pebworth. That is why they occasionally climb trees to get fruits and berries.
“Because they like to eat gardens and crops, they are often considered pests. Also, because they are large burrowing animals, they can cause damage to lawns, gardens, fences and foundations,” Pebworth added. “They have also been known to occasionally get into and destroy engine compartments and chew through electrical wires.”
There are a number of home remedies people can try to encourage groundhogs to move elsewhere, including ammonia, castor oil and Epsom salts, Pebworth said, noting these can be poured in and around a burrow entrance.
“They supposedly do not like the smell of these items and will vacate the area,” Pebworth said.
Used kitty litter box waste is also an option, he added, because it smells like a predator and can act as a deterrent to groundhogs.
“Lavender, garlic and cayenne pepper are other scents that are offensive to groundhogs, which may deter them from an area,” he said.
For those working on post, if groundhogs are being a nuisance, Pebworth advised submitting a service order to DPW with a description of the problem. This can be done through the Army Maintenance website.
For those living in on-post family housing, a request for maintenance can be completed via the resident portal on the Balfour Beatty Communities website.
Even though they may look cute and cuddly, Pebworth warned the community not to try to touch or pick up a groundhog.
“A groundhog’s first line of defense is to run away from danger,” Pebworth said. “They may stand their ground if cornered or captured and could bite if handled.”
Pebworth stressed if groundhogs are left alone, they are not considered a threat to humans.
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