Groundhogs (also known as woodchucks) are active all year, but summer is their peak construction season. If you’ve noticed large mounds of dirt near your deck, shed, or foundation, you aren’t just looking at a simple hole—you’re looking at the entrance to an underground engineering project that can undermine nearby structures.
Understanding Summer Groundhog Burrowing Habits
Why Summer is Peak Burrowing Season
If it feels like groundhog activity spikes in June and July, you aren't imagining it. Summer is a critical time for these rodents for two main reasons:
The Weaning of Pups: Groundhogs give birth in the spring. By mid-to-late summer, the juveniles are grown enough to leave their mother's burrow and establish their own territory. That means a sudden influx of new groundhogs looking to dig fresh tunnels on your property.
The Calorie Rush: Groundhogs are true hibernators. To survive the winter, they spend the entire summer eating up to a pound of vegetation a day and constantly expanding their burrows to secure safe places to sleep when the cold hits.
How to Spot the Signs
Keep an eye out for these telltale signs of a summer groundhog infestation:
- Mounds of fresh dirt measuring 10–12 inches across, usually located next to a structure, tree stump, or fence line
- Large holes 3-6+ inches across
- Deep wide tracks in soft dirt (look for four-clawed front prints and five-clawed rear prints)
- Chewed electrical wires or wood around the low-lying exterior of your home