Groundhogs mating in Nov - Ask Extension
I have a camera set up on my front step, near a an entrance to a groundhog den which is under my front porch. I’ve been watching the coming and goi...
Knowledgebase
Groundhogs mating in Nov #854965
Asked November 08, 2023, 5:48 PM EST
I have a camera set up on my front step, near a an entrance to a groundhog den which is under my front porch. I’ve been watching the coming and goings of this groundhog for a couple of months. It’s November here in Missouri and suddenly, my groundhog has a friend. It seems like they might be mating but I nothing I’ve read indicates that they ever mate in the fall or that they share their dens with other groundhogs. Why do you think this might happen.
Cass County Missouri
Expert Response
Hi Rhonda,
Those are some great pictures, thank you for sharing! I am by no means a groundhog expert. However, groundhogs do form complex social bonds which may also vary depending on where they live. These may be a male and female that have mated in the past, or perhaps the 'new' groundhog is possibly related to the resident groundhog. An old study showed that about 40% of juveniles will stay in their home range, but this was specific to Ohio (in PA all juveniles left their home range). Sorry I cannot be more helpful!
Leonie Jacobs
Virginia Tech
Those are some great pictures, thank you for sharing! I am by no means a groundhog expert. However, groundhogs do form complex social bonds which may also vary depending on where they live. These may be a male and female that have mated in the past, or perhaps the 'new' groundhog is possibly related to the resident groundhog. An old study showed that about 40% of juveniles will stay in their home range, but this was specific to Ohio (in PA all juveniles left their home range). Sorry I cannot be more helpful!
Leonie Jacobs
Virginia Tech
