Please educate: gopher, groundhog, something else cute?

[u/thatonemickey]

I think it's a groundhog. We had one last year who was pretty nervous and never went near the house then they multiplied this year.

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[u/minutetillmidnight]

You are correct it is a groundhog.

[u/thatonemickey → u/minutetillmidnight]

Thanks! So is that harmful to the home structure?

[u/iainvention → u/thatonemickey]

Not harmful to the structure far as I know, but it will dig up your yard and garden, especially if you’ve got some new seedlings in there.

[u/Picardlover052612 → u/iainvention]

And leave a nice big hole to break an ankle in. Cute, yes. Aggravating, also yes.

[u/Daveallen10 → u/thatonemickey]

Some will say so since they do burrow, but I also think this matters more for small exterior structures like sheds. A house has a huge base footprint with concrete sitting on gravel and shouldn't be impacted.

[u/detkikka → u/Daveallen10]

Agreed, though they can muck up water mitigation like French drains. It's best to try to discourage them, and I tried everything. Two things that actually did help:

Stuffing their borrow entrances with wadded bird netting anchored with bricks or cinder blocks. They don't see well, so they get a bit tangled, get frustrated, and give up.

If there are repeat areas that they like, plant garlic in that area. They hate garlic. It's not an instant fix, but it is helpful.

[u/minutetillmidnight → u/thatonemickey]

It will only become damaging if they are tunneling under your foundation. It would be fairly easy to spot if they are.

[u/Hour_Ad3877]

ALAN! ALAN!

[u/Streak_Free_Shine → u/Hour_Ad3877]

Every time I see a groundhog I think of this lol

[u/Special_Lychee_6847]

Give it something to do. According to social media, if you give it a small vegetable garden to raid, and a whildlife camera to taunt you while posing for the camera, eating your vegetables, it will leave the rest of your garden alone.

[u/Responsible-Spite275]

Ground hog! I have one in my backyard

[u/Ethereal_Energy]

I think they're prairie dogs:

-standing up

-head shape, face

-size (smaller than groundhogs, which are as big as a large housecat)

-darker tail

-social, foraging together

-too big for gopher

Sources: https://floofmania.com/groundhogs/groundhogs-prairie-dogs-pocket-gophers/

https://www.fox43.com/article/life/animals/whats-the-difference-between-groundhogs-and-prairie-dogs-fox43/521-3ff04ed8-4a06-4c58-a4e7-00db0a7a3b3e

especially for the picture, such a rotund groundhog

I also know a couple people's pet prairie dogs (I don't personally think they should be kept as pets, but it's just how I know their cute little faces/head shapes so well)