Clover was acquired June 1, 2001 .  Clover was born in captivity, in Iowa, U.S.A., at a groundhog breeding facility.  A zoo had ordered her to be produced and hand raised for exhibit.  Some time after Clover was born; the zoo cancelled their order, leaving Clover in need of a permanent home.  We brought her here to be a life companion for Flower (our resident skunk) and to be a part of our outreach program, teaching thousands of school children across Ontario.

Groundhog/Woodchuck (Marmota monax)

Dining and Dwelling

This diurnal (active during the day) rodent is primarily a grazer; eats vegetative parts of plants, bark and twigs if there is no green leaves available; their fond of fruits and vegetables and also will consume a few insects and young birds of ground nesting species.  Groundhogs prefer open areas and forest edges rather than the closed canopy mature forests that are home to other squirrels.  They enjoy well-drained open woods, pastures, fields, clearings and rocky ravines.  They may have many burrows, which can be up to 16 m (50 ft) in length and 5 m (16 ft) underground.  Groundhogs are true hibernators and accumulate huge fat reserves to last them through the winter.

Life and Death

Females give birth in spring to a litter of one to nine offspring.  They are weaned six weeks later, but they may remain with the mother until late summer. 

Many groundhogs are poisoned every year in agricultural areas.  Bobcats, badgers, coyotes, birds of prey, foxes and domestic dogs also prey upon them.

That's Amazing

• Groundhogs have a wide range of aggressive signals, including hisses, growls, shrieks and teeth chattering.
• The largest member of the squirrel family in Ontario, the groundhog is an excellent climber.