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Homescience

Groundhog vs. Gopher: Nature’s Underground Engineers

Groundhog or gopher? Discover how to tell these burrowing mammals apart with their habits, diets and habitats. They may look similar but live very differently.

Gurpreet Singh | November 13, 2025 / 17:19 IST
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1. Groundhog: Groundhogs, also called woodchucks, are large rodents, part of the marmot family, living mostly above-ground and hibernating in winter. (Image: Canva)
1. Groundhog: Groundhogs, also called woodchucks, are large rodents, part of the marmot family, living mostly above-ground and hibernating in winter. (Image: Canva)
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2. Gopher: Gophers are smaller rodents that live almost entirely underground, building extensive tunnel systems and storing food in their burrows. (Image: Canva)
2. Gopher: Gophers are smaller rodents that live almost entirely underground, building extensive tunnel systems and storing food in their burrows. (Image: Canva)
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3. Habitat: Groundhogs prefer open fields, meadows, and woodland edges, while gophers favor loose, sandy soil for creating extensive burrow networks. (Image: Canva)
3. Habitat: Groundhogs prefer open fields, meadows and woodland edges, while gophers favor loose, sandy soil for creating extensive burrow networks. (Image: Canva)
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4. Size Comparison: Groundhogs are bigger, averaging 16–26 inches long, whereas gophers measure about 6–10 inches, making them much smaller burrow specialists. (Image: Canva)
4. Size Comparison: Groundhogs are bigger, averaging 16–26 inches long, whereas gophers measure about 6–10 inches, making them much smaller burrow specialists. (Image: Canva)
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5. Hibernation: Groundhogs hibernate for months in winter, lowering body temperature and slowing metabolism. Here, gophers stay active year-round underground. (Image: Canva)
5. Hibernation: Groundhogs hibernate for months in winter, lowering body temperature and slowing metabolism. Here, gophers stay active year-round underground. (Image: Canva)
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6. Appearance Difference: Groundhogs have stout bodies and short tails. Gophers are compact, with fur-covered, cheek pouches for carrying food underground. (Image: Canva)
6. Appearance Difference: Groundhogs have stout bodies and short tails. Gophers are compact, with fur-covered, cheek pouches for carrying food underground. (Image: Canva)
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7. Diet: Groundhogs eat grasses, berries, and vegetables, whereas gophers feed mostly on roots, tubers, and underground plant parts. (Image: Canva)
7. Diet: Groundhogs eat grasses, berries and vegetables, whereas gophers feed mostly on roots, tubers, and underground plant parts. (Image: Canva)
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8. Behaviour: Groundhogs are social and may be seen above-ground during daylight. Gophers are mostly solitary and rarely leave tunnels. (Image: Canva)
8. Behaviour: Groundhogs are social and may be seen above-ground during daylight. Gophers are mostly solitary and rarely leave tunnels. (Image: Canva)
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9. Burrowing Skills: Both burrow, but groundhogs dig simpler dens for shelter, while gophers build complex tunnels to store food safely underground. (Image: Canva)
9. Burrowing Skills: Both burrows, but groundhogs dig simpler dens for shelter, while gophers build complex tunnels to store food safely underground. (Image: Canva)
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10. Reproduction: Groundhogs breed once a year in spring, producing 2–6 pups. The gophers have similar breeding habits but usually fewer offspring per litter. (Image: Canva)
10. Reproduction: Groundhogs breed once a year in spring, producing 2–6 pups. The gophers have similar breeding habits but usually fewer offspring per litter. (Image: Canva)

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