Groundhog Attacks!

[sourland]

I had a similiar situation. I asked and was told by an animal control offiecrt that groundhogs do not get rabies. Don't know if he was messing with me.

Absolute misinformation! This AC officer needs to be educated or replaced.

 

[walkswithdog]

Got word last night, not rabid, just crazy. I have a varmint dog, so there are no holes and no runs in the yard. Huey would never allow it. I tell you, that was one seriously ****** off giant gerbil. I have a bite pic but I have to upload it to shutterfly. It was just too odd for words. It was a male and a juvenile, so no babies. I've never seen one jump up at a person repeatedly like that. Or one not run off once it was given the opportunity. I've seen them defend sets before but this wasn't defense, no set and no young. Dead deviant groundhog suits me just fine. He was probably some rebel goth teenage mutant ninja groundhog. The world isnt ready for those yet...

 

[GardenerGal]

That's great news! What a relief. Not a good ending for the PO'd woodchuck, but definitely a happy one for you to not need a round of shots. Phew!!!

 

[sourland]

Good news!

 

[Matthew3590]

Could it be time for ground hog mating season?

 

[GardenerGal]

Could it be time for ground hog mating season?

No. Groundhogs mate in the late winter, when males wake up from hibernation before females (which may have spurred Groundhog Day, though typically the males wake up a little later than that - late Feb or early March). They follow their noses, picking up female pheromones, to the females' dens, mate with the hibernating females, then go on their merry way. The females wake up pregnant and ready to give birth. The babies are born blind and helpless but by April they're scooting around outside the burrow and by early summer you can see them grazing on the side of the road. By late summer, momma is chasing them away (Go find your own apartment!).

Males are done with mating by March, so in June and July they're just fattening up for winter in our veggie gardens and fruit orchards. lol!