What Do Baby Groundhogs Eat?
Groundhogs, also known as woodchucks, are rodents native to North America. At birth, baby groundhogs are helpless and dependent upon their mothers. For their first few weeks of life they will not venture far from their mothers and will stay close to her den.
Understanding the types of foods a groundhog eats can help us better understand their nutritional requirements. So, what do baby groundhogs eat?
Nutrition for Baby Groundhogs
Baby groundhogs need their own specific nutrition to develop properly. An adult groundhog’s diet is mostly made up of vegetation like leaves, grass, nuts, and berries, with the occasional bug or two, but the diet of baby groundhogs is completely different. For the first two weeks, a baby groundhog’s diet consists of only mother’s milk. After two weeks, their diet can begin to incorporate solid foods.
Solid Food for Baby Groundhogs
Once baby groundhogs are two weeks old, they will start to explore their environment and venture away from the den, seeking out food. Baby groundhogs will generally eat a variety of young leaves, soft stems, flowers and grasses, as well as a few insects.
Here are some of the common foods that baby groundhogs enjoy:
- Young leaves – like lettuce and spinach
- Soft stems – such as rose, chamomile, and plantain
- Flowers – like dandelion, clover, and daisies
- Grasses – such as timothy grass
- Insects – including beetles, grasshoppers, and caterpillars
Baby groundhogs also enjoy eating fruits and vegetables like tomatoes, apples, and carrots. However, it is important to remember that these should only make up a small portion of their diet, and should never replace their regular food.
Conclusion
A baby groundhog’s diet consists of mostly vegetation, like young leaves and soft stems, as well as a few insects. Fruits and vegetables should be fed sparingly, as they should never replace the groundhogs’ regular food. Groundhogs are essential to a healthy ecosystem, so understanding their diet is important to understanding how to help them thrive.