how long groundhogs live

Groundhogs usually live 2–3 years in the wild , can sometimes reach 5–6 years , and in captivity they can live 10–14 years or more thanks to better food, shelter, and lack of predators.

Quick Scoop: How long groundhogs live

• In the wild, most groundhogs only make it to about 2–3 years old.

• Under good conditions, a wild groundhog can reach around 5–6 years.

• In captivity (zoos, rehab centers, or as education animals), they often reach 10–14 years because they’re protected from predators, harsh weather, and cars.

Why wild groundhogs don’t live as long

• Predators like foxes, coyotes, and dogs, plus cars and pest control, shorten their lifespans in the wild.

• Young groundhogs are especially vulnerable in their first year above ground.
• Harsh winters, disease, and food availability also play a role.

A quick life story of a groundhog

• Year 1: Born in spring in an underground burrow, blind and hairless, then weaned and on their own by a few months old.

• Year 2: Reaches breeding age around the second year, digs its own burrows, and survives its first full hibernation cycle.

• Years 3–6: If it beats the odds, it becomes a sturdy adult, spending summers eating to bulk up and winters in deep hibernation.

Fun twist: Famous weather “celebrities” like Punxsutawney Phil are claimed to be over 100 years old, but that’s more tradition and legend than biological reality—real groundhog bodies don’t last anywhere near that long.

TL;DR: If you see a wild groundhog on Groundhog Day, chances are it’s only a few years old—but a pampered, captive groundhog can make it past 10. Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.