How to Raise a Groundhog

Warm up the orphaned groundhog by wrapping it gently in a warm towel. This is especially important to do first because an orphaned groundhog will likely be suffering from chill and dehydration. In its first 7 weeks of life, keep the groundhog in a cardboard box, indoors, with soft, ravel-free blankets and a well-wrapped hot water bottle for warmth. Increase the size of the box or move it to a pet carrier as groundhog gets older. Attach a water bottle feeder to the box or to the door of the pet carrier. You may remove the heat source at about 5 weeks old.

Stimulate the groundhog to urinate before and after every feeding. This is accomplished by dipping a finger or Q-tip into warm water and lightly stroking the genital area. The groundhog will then urinate. Continue to stimulate until the kit has finished expelling its waste. The groundhog will need to be stimulated to eliminate until its 6 weeks old.

Wrap the groundhog in a warm blanket before feeding to protect it from drafts. The groundhog should be covered in a blanket whenever removed from its bed until its 5 weeks old.

Feed the groundhog a rehydration solution such as Pedialyte for the first few feedings. Warm the solution to body temperature and feed using a 1- to 5-cc oral syringe that can be purchased at many pet stores or from a veterinarian. Feed slowly, and cease immediately if the groundhog begins to sneeze the solution out of its nose. If this happens, invert the baby and hold until sneezing stops and gently wipe excess formula from its nose.

Continue feeding, replacing the rehydration solution with Esbilac powder mixture. Mix only enough for 24 hours at a time and keep the mix refrigerated. Continue stimulating for urination until about 6 weeks old, when the groundhog should be eliminating on its own. At 1 week feed 5 to 6 ml. of formula five or six times daily; at 2 weeks feed 6 to 8 ml. five times daily; at 3 weeks feed 8 to 10 ml. four times daily; at 4 weeks feed 10 to 15 ml. four times daily; at 5 weeks feed 15 to 20 ml. four times daily; at 6 weeks feed 25 to 35 ml. three times daily; at 7 weeks feed 35 to 50 ml. two times per day. The groundhog should be ready for weaning at 8 weeks of age.

Begin introducing solid food to the groundhog's diet at about 4 weeks old. same as above. Introduce rabbit pellets and a separate dish of fruit comprised of banana and peeled apple. At 5 weeks, introduce natural greens including dandelions and clover and a separate dish of vegetables consisting of yam, broccoli, and spinach. At 6 weeks greens should be replenished four or five times a day. Give the kit as much food as it is willing to eat in solid form, and maintain a strict amount of formula. This is all part of the weaning process.

Build a large outdoor cage. Use welded wire mesh and make the cage 8- by 4- by 4-feet in size. Make sure to mesh the bottom as well. Put a 2- by 2-foot nesting box in the bottom of the cage as well. Include a sandbox area for the kit to learn to dig and branches for it to chew on. Put the groundhog in this cage when it is about 7 weeks old.

Keep the woodchuck with other woodchucks to ensure proper socialization. If you only found one groundhog kit orphaned, check with local humane societies to see if they have any. If not, be sure to give the groundhog toys but minimize direct interaction with you. Also be sure to prevent the animal from socializing with other pets.

Release the groundhog when it is 13 to 14 weeks old. Release into a field far from the road, where other groundhogs have been sighted but not where hunters or trappers search for them. Release kits during the day, when the forecast calls for 2 or 3 days of dry weather. Choose a spot with an abandoned groundhog hole or dig a starter hole for them. Leave food in the area for the groundhog to get started.