Groundhogs

[KMart]

Recently we have had several opportunities to see Groundhogs on TV, The guys in PA and the NYC Mayor doing the handling.

My question is, have any of you guys raised and had one of these critters for a pet? They seem somewhat docile on TV, but I know that is not always the case.

I personally have rescued and raised quite a few squirrels over the last 10 or so years. They are interesting little critters, but over the years I have eaten thousands of them. They are good fried or smothered in gravy.

 

[lpreddick]

i hunt ghogs for a living...just kidding, but several farmers tell me of raising a baby ghog to adulthood and swear they made a great pet. they would get on the couch and roll over to have their belly rubbed or would come to a whistle to get a treat. some get a bit crabby in the spring...mating season. a friend decided to get a pup and raise it. he staked out a den and waited for the mother to bring the young out. he was able to grab a smal one then all hell broke loose! he will show you the many scars on his hand and arm and describe how much blood one can lose from a ghogs bite. you decide, i'll watch. i always poke them before declaring them dead...had some growl and recall my friend's scars.

 

[CanusLatransSnpr]

My Dad and my Uncle raised one up from a pup, they found it just shortly after it had opened it eyes! Dad said it wasn't a bad pet until it got older and decided to make a den out of my grandparents' couch. That and one time my Aunt sat down on the couch and it bit her on the ass, guess it got a little ornery as it got older! Wasn't long after that they took it to a local farm and set it free. There's some real world experience for what its worth!

Mike

 

[dragman]

I know a lot of farmers that hate them critters with a passion! cause thousands in damaged tractors. They are like most animals would make great pets but when they hit sexual maturity they become "wild again"

 

[WyleWD]

I know a lot of farmers that hate them critters with a passion! cause thousands in damaged tractors. They are like most animals would make great pets but when they hit sexual maturity they become "wild again"

Exactly correct. They are actually fierce by nature, and with the (big) sharp teeth they have, are a serious potential hazard to both ones' anatomy, furniture, and wood work in the home. Having seen first hand the injury they can cause to a dog, personally I'd be scared to think of the possibilities of inflicting those same injuries on a well meaning child or visitor in your home. JMHO, but there are MUCH better pet choices. WD

 

[KMart]

As far as raising one, I would think they are like squirrels. If you can get one before it opens its eyes and raise it on a syringe, they are pretty docile and you can handle them.

The ones that I have worked with are also a one person pet. They are not friendly to anyone other than the person that raised them.

 

[Nomad47]

I would imagine the ones you see being handled on TV are full of Prozac (I think that is the drug that makes you mellow).

 

[357Mag]

KMART -

Howdy !

My best friend & shootin' buddie had one. Found an orphan, and raised it bottle-fed ( at the start ).

He made the groundhog stand on its hind legs, when it wanted the bottle. It would then remain standing, while it drained the bottle dry.

That groundhog thought everybody was his friend ! Including...... the dog that came up & ate him !!
Dumber than a box of rocks.


With regards,
357Mag

 

[Dave T]

WyleWD and dragman got it right. I've had a couple as pets, well let's not use the term pets, I've caught a couple young ground hogs years ago and placed them in a pin. They will eat and survive and just kind of ignore whats going on around them, but not a good pet and they will bite. I eventually released them behind the factory where I worked, we always saw several ground hogs there and I knew they would be safe from hunters, like me.
Dave T

 

[MrMajestic]

Forget the Chuck, go get yerself a Sheep. Make it a pretty girl one. Much better companion! ;D

 

[Raythemanroe]

Never once thought of raising a woodchuck, squirrels are cute pets but don't walk around in your underwear because when they launch on you for attention they have some sharp little nails

 

[snert]

A guy on Varmint Hunter forum (VHA) posted quite a long story (multiple posts over a year or more) about his pet chuck. Might want to check him out. I think he was part of a video production group, "chuckwaggin" or something as memory serves.

 

[IA_shooter]

I've seen people with pet chucks, pet skunks, pet coons, etc, etc, but anything (including cats) that I see in season out in the country/woods gets my "pet" name attached to them immediately ............ "TARGET"! ;D

 

[Raythemanroe]

Anyone whistle at there pet woodchuck to see if they stand up?

 

[LHSmith]

I believe in Pennsylvania, you need a permit to keep any game animal as a pet. Our local grundsow lodge # 6, found out the hard way....and once Schnogadaul Sammi met his maker :'(, we had the little bastard stuffed ;D. Yes, they do get nasty with age.

 

[timeout]

Pet my rear end. My wife has been yelling at me for not shooting the rascal, so that he would not have seen his shadow! I'll do better next time.

 

[expiper]

I have seen several groundhogs here in the hills that were "pets",,,,the are very destructive when in the house,especially to furniture (wayyyy worse than cats scratching their claws!!!) and are very rough and tuff when playing ,,,and quick as a cat with their teeth ,,,my uncle had one bite thru his forearm between the bones!!!grrr,,,when the run thru the house the grunt with every step,,,pretty funnyyyy ,,,but I would not reccomend one as a pet,,,,I have stopped killing them because around here they are becoming "rare",,the coyotes are digging them out of their burrrows and killing them in wholesale fashion,,,,and the groundhogs are what dig the holes that the rabbits and other creatures use as dens,,,unless they are in the middle of a hay field I wont bother them,,,,then you can encourage them to move by pouring mothballs in the hole,,they will take the hint and move outa the field and over by the creek bank,,,,,the only danger they cause are to cattle stepping in their hole ,,or worse yet the tractor runing the downhill tire in a hole (around here all fields are slopeing on a hill side !!)and upsetting,,tht can be VERY bad,,,,,Roger