After a month of living in the woodpile in our backyard, the groundhog family seems to have moved to under our front porch. The mom Missouri Maude was born under the front porch...

Maude (the current groundhog mom) whelped her own litter under our back deck (a first) where she kept them until they were big enough to meet the world https://pbase.com/britestar/image/173700710 At that point Maude then moved everyone to the backyard woodpile (away from the house and deck) where she and her siblings had also grown up.

Before Grandma Missouri Mabel and her brood (that included Maude) arrived on the scene, several other, different groundhogs (starting with Missouri Phil) had (one at a time: for a few years each) occupied the woodpile https://pbase.com/image/169921840 None ever caused us any trouble. We've had groundhogs in our backyard for maybe 25 years.

Three years ago, Grandma Mabel (the first female I know about) had whelped her own 7 babies (including Maude) under our front porch. That was where Mabel's babies spent their early weeks. That was a first. Previously, no groundhog had ever come close to our house and had always stayed just in the woodpile away from the house.

After Mabel's pups were a little bit older (but still babies), Grandma Mabel moved everyone to the "groundhog woodpile" in the backyard: away from our house.

This woodpile has been where Mabel's grandpups (from daughter Maude) have now also been living, following their coming out to meet the world. Mabel and most of her pups (including now mama Maude) had all lived together in the woodpile since June 2020. Mabel disappeared (passed away) in 2022, but two of Mabel's daughters were still living in the woodpile together early this Spring (2023) before pregnant Maude eventually drove her also pregnant litter sister off: https://pbase.com/britestar/image/173447323

It's curious that Maude has now suddenly decided to move her brood from the woodpile to the front where she was born. Although Maude originally had 4 pups with her right up until late May, there seems to only be 3. Maybe something happened to the 4th pup or maybe he just left home to go on his own. According to what I've read, the pups are now at an age where they should be starting their individual lives of independence. Maude is no longer nursing her litter.

Grandma Mabel kept 6 of her pups (something happened to the 7th one early on) with her for the entire summer of 2020. That was unusual. Supposedly, the normal way for groundhogs is for the pups to go out on their own as soon as they are able to fully feed themselves. Mama Maude's pups have now reached that stage. So, we'll see what happens. This abrupt move to the front has been a big surprise. Since the pups first emerged in early May, no one has been using the burrow under the back deck, nor even going under the back deck for anything. Their home has instead been the woodpile.

Interestingly, Mama Maude, is now the one who has been carrying dried grass all day into the old burrow under the front porch to make it comfortable for living. This burrow hasn't been used since Maude was a baby herself 3 years ago. We were happy about its disuse. Frankly, I would prefer that the groundhogs weren't living so close to our house. Until Mabel had babies, groundhogs never came close. Before having pups, Grandma Mable also originally lived pretty far away from the house in the backyard woodpile. But then, she decided to have her babies under our front porch. However, once her pups were big enough, Mabel abandoned the front porch and took her brood to the woodpile.

I was very happy when the newest mama "Maude" decided to not stay under our back deck once her pups were big enough to explore the world beyond their nest. Her nesting burrow (made early this year) has now been abandoned. However, two pups of Maude's pups (plus Maude) are suddenly now using Mabel's old nesting burrow under the porch; while the third remaining pup still lives in the back in the woodpile. Pup #4 is a mystery.

Nature is fascinating. And it doesn't always follow what you read in the books...I've been learning a lot about groundhogs during the past 3 years. Prior to Mabel, I think all the groundhogs we've had over the years (who only stuck to the woodpile) were males. Females with young seem to behave quite differently. The baby groundhogs interestingly act a lot like puppy dogs. Guess that's why they fascinate me.