Blue Ridge Wildlife Center Patient of the Week: Groundhog

Photos courtesy of Blue Ridge Wildlife Center

This young groundhog (aka: woodchuck, whistlepig) was brought to us after it was found with a piece of plastic netting around its neck. This had cut into the neck tissue and left it open and infected.

Thankfully the finder was able to get this animal contained and into care quickly so that we could begin treating the wound.

Each year we see dozens of patients trapped in plastic netting. Songbirds, snakes, and other wildlife can easily become entangled in mesh netting.

Design your barriers with wildlife in mind. For example, using butterfly cages or very fine mesh netting (like the size of a window screen) are the safest options. If you have garden netting currently protecting any plants and you decide to remove it, please be sure to secure the netting in a bag or bin – not in a loose pile.

Our favorite option is to plant more so you can afford to lose some of your garden to a wild neighbors. These little changes you make on your property can help save wildlife!

Luckily, this groundhog is doing well! His neck wound is healing and he has since been placed with two other young groundhogs we have in care. The three will be raised together here at the Center and released later this summer.

Groundhogs are commonly thought of as pests because of their burrows and appetites. Please remember it is not legal (or humane) to relocate animals in Virginia. This time of year, many groundhogs are raising babies so relocation would create many orphans. Always use humane eviction techniques and never trap and relocate. When possible, wait until early fall to evict groundhog families to give the young the best chance of survival. Learn more here.