Will a Ground Hog attack a person?

Answer 1

Groundhogs are rodents, so they are not carnivores. They will not attack unless they are cornered and afraid. If you threaten one, a groundhog would bite and scratch to protect itself. Otherwise, groundhogs are not dangerous.

I am sorry that the comment above comes up first because it is just simply untrue. Groundhog mothers, protecting a litter, will attack you, and attack you to the death - yours or theirs and they prefer it to be yours. Groundhogs do not have to be cornered to attack either!

One summer day, my siblings and teenaged uncle were out walking in forbidden territory - the backfield behind our property in Whitefield, New Hampshire. My dad always told us to stay out of the backfield because it belonged to the animals and that was a lesson that was emphasised that day and one we will never forget. There was an old junked truck in the backfield. When we got about 15 feet away from it, a groundhog rushed out at us, chasing us. Our dogs, a collie and an Airdale, responded to our screams and lept to our defense. Killing the groundhog. Both dogs suffered deep punctures from being bitten. That groundhog was not playing. That night we were punished for going into the backfield and causing one of God's creatures to perish needlessly.

Also - rats are rodents and will eat anything, including raw or cooked meat. If you have ever lived around Hartford, CT you know that rats thrive on dumpster dinners, so just because a groundhog doesn't necessarily want to eat us for breakfast does not mean that rodents will not eat meat. Rodents are intelligent and adapt to their environment. Editor's note: Stay out of the backfield and stay out of dumpsters. :-D

Answer 2

Read the good answers...but know also that ground hogs can become rabid! I was shocked when reading it 360+ Found in US 1990-96!

We have one trapped on lawn—saw a YouTube of an attack—it had to be put down; another case where dogs were attacked.

Answer 3

yep probaly to protect themselves or their loved ones