Groundhogs aren't a threat to chickens are they?

[farmerjill]

Woodchucks are totally vegetarian and they'll hiss if they feel threatened, but I've never heard of them attacking.... They dig dens/holes when they have cover in front of their entrances (piles of brush, woodpiles, tall weeds) so you can keep them from undermining your buildings if you keep the bases of your buildings clean and clear. In the garden, they are usually only a "danger" to seedlings. I actually enjoy seeing them around, but I'm a farmer's daughter (and a farmer myself) so I don't say that too loudly since farmers love to talk about how they hate woodchucks. We have lots of coyotes around and I like to think that the rabbits and woodchucks provide food for the coyotes, so they don't even think about going after my chickens or cats.

 

[jjthink]

They won't hurt the birds. If you'd like to discourage them from being in the area for other reasons, there are a number of repellents that reportedly work well - castor oil down their tunnels, mint, alcohol etc. Googling "groundhog repellent" brings up some options.

I brought a young one to a wildlife rehab center a couple of weeks ago - it was suffering terribly, crawled out of a ravine 'to me', covered in flies/maggots, having apparently been hit by a car. As of a few days ago, he/she seemed to be on the road to recovery, about which I am glad. I don't wish harm to them but understand the need to 'reroute' them!

They'll growl and stuff if they feel threatened but they are also terrified. I had one run across the yard once, in a race to get away from something. Next thing I know it was on my shoes and bumped into my legs. It then looked up and saw me and we were both so startled we jumped like 3 feet! Then the poor thing ran away as fast as his short little legs could carry him.

JJ

 

[Country4ever]

I've seen them climb trees! I never knew they did that.......Although I do occasionally see their scratch marks on the bark of trees. I think its a territory marker.

 

[Uppity Peon]

They might attract weasels or stoats.