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Do Groundhogs Climb Fences or Trees? (Quick Answers)

Groundhog is a species of wild rat that belongs to the group of large ground squirrels known as marmots. They are also known as woodchucks. In today’s article, we will discuss if the groundhogs can climb fences or trees. 

Do groundhogs climb Fences? 

It is very common for the groundhogs to climb any type of tree or cliff. So, climbing a fence isn’t a big deal for the groundhog. Since they are good climbers, they can easily climb fences and invade the protected area. Due to their sharp teeth, they can easily hold into any object and climb it. 

The woodchucks or groundhogs have a common functionality of climbing trees or cliffs. These small animals can easily climb fences as well. 

Although the groundhogs roam around open areas like fields, roads, or streams, they are often seen in the trees as well. In some cases, the groundhogs climb trees or cliffs to search for food or to save their life from any invading animal. 

That is why, when guarding your vegetable garden to prevent invasion from the groundhogs, you need to put at least six feet high fences to cover the whole area. 

Below is a brief discussion on whether the groundhogs can climb different types of protective fences:

Chicken wire fences: 

The chicken wire fences can be a great option to prevent groundhogs from entering your garden. You can cover your vegetable garden with chicken mesh wire fences. 

These fences are generally 6 feet high in length. So, these fences will be high enough to prevent them from climbing into your garden 

Wood fences: 

Although the groundhogs are expert climbers, you can still prevent them from entering your garden by putting wood fences in the garden. 

Although wood fences can be useful to cover a small area because covering a larger area will cost you a lot of money. So, you can apply wood fences as well but in a smaller area. 

Make sure to bury the wooden fences inside the ground to prevent the groundhogs from going into the garden from inside the ground.

Are groundhogs good climbers?  

Although the groundhogs are seen most of the time roaming around open areas such as the fields, roads, or streams, they can also be seen in the trees or cliffs. They are good climbers and swimmers as well. 

The sharp teeth of the groundhogs somehow help them to hold into the objects when climbing up the trees. Since the groundhogs are fat and they have small feet, they cannot climb much higher. 

In most cases, the groundhogs climb up the trees to save their life from any animals that are risking their life, or to search for food or fruits. 

How high of a fence can a groundhog climb?  

Since the groundhogs are good climbers, they can easily enter the garden and damage the vegetables and plants. That is why fencing can be a good option to stop the groundhogs. 

Generally, the groundhogs can climb at least 3 feet high fences. This is the maximum height they can generally climb. Fences higher than this can be difficult for them to climb. 

So, you can apply at least 6 feet high fences to prevent the groundhogs from climbing up. In addition to that, slightly bury at least 1 feet fence inside the ground because the groundhogs can also dig through the soil and enter the garden. 

Bend the fence outwards so that it becomes more difficult for the groundhogs to climb in the garden. 

Does liquid fence work on groundhogs?  

Liquid fences can be a smart choice to deal with groundhogs. The groundhogs cannot climb such types of fences since they are quite high enough to prevent the groundhogs from climbing the fence. 

So, when applying liquid fences to the garden, make sure to put them at a higher length and bend the top of the fence outwards. 

When building liquid fences, make sure to bury one-sixth of the fence inside the ground of it and make sure to place poles to strengthen the corners of the liquid fences. 

Although the liquid fences may attract the other animals which can affect the environment of the garden. 

Do groundhogs climb trees?  

The groundhogs have good expertise in climbing trees. They are commonly found roaming on roads or fields. In some cases, they climb trees, especially when they are desperate in search of food or want to get away from any invading animals. Also, the groundhogs can climb cliffs and fences too. 

The groundhogs are good at climbing heights. These small animals can climb trees or cliffs very easily. Generally, one of the common reasons the groundhogs try to climb up the trees is to escape from the predator animals. 

Using their sharp and large claws, they can easily get a grip on the trees and climb them quickly. Sometimes the groundhogs also climb the trees to get the colorful and leafy fruits and vegetables. 

Although the nails of the groundhogs are thick, very few objects or branches of the trees exist that they can pierce and hold into. 

Another thing that can be added to their specialty is digging the ground using their sharp claws and going through under the ground. Their body strength is superior and their claws can easily pierce the barks of the trees.

In addition to that, they are easily able to determine which type of tree is softer than the others so they can escape the predator animals quicker. 

The groundhogs have the characteristic of distributing their weight evenly when climbing the trees. This helps them to pull themselves up quickly. Sometimes, the groundhogs may climb trees to sleep at night.

Why do groundhogs climb trees? 

There are many reasons why a groundhog can climb a tree. The main reason for the groundhog to climb a tree can be to get away from the predator animals. 

Although the groundhogs have a fat body and small legs, they cannot reach higher when climbing the tree. 

But their sharp claws help them to hold onto the objects when climbing, in some cases, the groundhogs can distribute their body weight when climbing up the trees. 

This helps them to climb the trees quicker. Below is a brief discussion on why do groundhogs climb trees:  

Save them from predator animals: 

One of the significant reasons why a groundhog is seen climbing a tree is to save them from predator animals.

In addition to that, the animal is seen mostly on the grounds, roaming and searching for food. But some predator animals can harm them, that is why they instantly climb up on the trees whenever a predator anima approaches at them 

To sleep: 

Since the groundhogs are often struck by predator animals, it is risky for them to spend the night on the ground. That is why the groundhogs choose to sleep on the branches of a tree. 

They use their claws to climb the trees faster and reach the top of the tree to sleep peacefully. 

To search for food: 

In some cases, the groundhogs can climb the trees just for food. The groundhogs love to eat green, colorful, and leafy vegetables and fruits. So, sometimes they climb up on the trees to see if there are any fruits. 

This act is mostly done when they are so desperate in search of food because there is no food on the ground around them.

How to groundhog proof a garden?  

The small animals can easily enter your garden and damage the plants and vegetables. To prevent that, you need to have a protective guard surrounding the garden. The common problem that almost every gardener faces is the invasion of groundhogs. 

They come to the garden and eat the leafy green vegetables and damage the plant. Below is a brief discussion on how to groundhog proof a garden: 

Prepare the garden for fencing: 

Simply prepare the garden for fencing by placing poles on each corner of the garden. These poles will be helpful to attach the fences to them strongly. 

Dig the border of the garden 10 inches deep: 

This part is important to prevent the groundhogs from reaching the garden by digging into the soil. You need to dig the garden border 10 inches deep to place the chicken wire nets inside of it. 

Place the wire Fence: 

It’s time for the most important part, placing the fence properly. Place the fences along with the poles and stick them using nails. Make sure to put the fence 10 inches deep. The height of the fence should be about 5 feet.

Final Thoughts 

The groundhogs can climb both trees and fences. The groundhogs usually climb trees to either sleep, search for food, or to get away from the predator animals. They can climb at least 3 feet of the fence but due to their weight and short legs, they cannot climb higher than that.