Groundhog

People often mix these tracks up with rabbit or dog prints, but dogs leave four toes on all four feet, and rabbits leave a distinct bounding pattern. If you notice a much smaller animal with bold stripes running down its back, you are looking at a thirteen-lined ground squirrel instead of its larger cousin.

This animal spends its time between underground burrows and daylight foraging runs across lawns, pastures, and garden edges. It operates on a strictly seasonal clock. You will see it most often from mid-spring through early autumn as it stuffs itself on clover, lawn grass, and whatever vegetables are currently ripening in the garden.

When winter arrives, it disappears entirely beneath the frost line for deep hibernation, cutting off all surface activity until the following spring. Property owners often wonder why these animals choose a spot right next to a human dwelling, but a porch or concrete slab offers unmatched protection for a subterranean nest.

You do not need to worry about spotting distinct social classes or dramatic size gaps between males and females when one crosses your path. The young stay safely tucked away in the dark underground nest chambers until they are big enough to brave the open lawn, while the grown animals handle the real work of guarding the territory and pushing out endless cartloads of fresh dirt.

Their physical build stays remarkably the same throughout the entire active season. They all wear that familiar, coarse brownish-red coat and dark paws, shaped much more like a furry wedge than a nimble tree climber, which fits an animal that moves cubic yards of earth without stopping.

Finding one of these tenants settled beneath your deck, porch, or concrete slab means you are looking at a structural headache in the making. Their sprawling underground networks shift tons of soil, which easily weakens building footings and leaves concrete foundations to crack or sink into the void. Aside from the physical damage to your property, they bring serious public health concerns to your backyard.

They can carry rabies, meaning any direct bite or scratch requires an immediate trip to the doctor and thorough scrubbing of the wound with soap and water. They also host roundworms that create genuine health risks if you disturb contaminated soil while clearing out old dens. Putting up solid physical barriers using buried wire mesh is your best bet for keeping them away for good, because ultrasonic gadgets and store-bought repellents almost never do the trick.