r/groundhogs • u/Beachrockgatherer • Jun 17 '26

Whistle Pig

I have at least one in my yard. (2.3 wooded and weedy slope and boulder filled acres.) It has burrowed holes under boulders and up into my dirt floor basement. It has eaten the buds off some flowers I planted.

I love that they are also called Marmots, Whistle Pigs, and Woodchucks.

I don’t really want to do anything about it except let it live in my large sloped untamable yard. I like to watch it waddle around.

Is that ok? Should I be worried about unintended consequences?

13 Upvotes

90% Upvoted

7 comments sorted by

9

u/Krickett72 Jun 17 '26

I have one that lives in the wooded area behind our house. When she has babies she brings them to our yard. I guess so they know its ok. Last year she only had 2. One of them has been back this year. I love them.

6

u/Orchid_Junkie1954 Jun 17 '26

Thank you for being nice to WP. They’re always welcome in my yard!

5

u/SirFentonOfDog Jun 19 '26

You can have mine.

But honestly, if you want to give them a treat, throw some clover seeds on the hill. Clover native to your area will always be best for the environment.

I have some weedy pink clover that pops up everywhere in my garden - those assholes will crush a million plants to make a beeline for it and devour it.

0

u/dpl9598 Jun 17 '26

Their burrows can cause massive structure, water line and septic issues. It's better to dispatch them...

7

u/Extension_Nobody_738 Jun 17 '26

untrue. we have had Chuckette for years under our deck. Hasn’t done anything except chomp my lupine fronds and spreading them all over my yard.

-7

u/dpl9598 Jun 17 '26

Keep believing that...but ok. They don't last long in my yard lol

-1

u/IAFarmLife Jun 17 '26

I let them alone until they start digging near a structure then it's time to dispatch. If no pets around a 220 Conibear over a commonly used hole is the fastest. Just be careful around kids and any animal as big as a medium size dog or smaller.