Yes—usually the mother groundhog stays with the babies for a while, and the young leave the burrow when they’re old enough, rather than the mom just handing the hole over immediately. Baby groundhogs typically stay in the den for about 6 weeks, and the family may separate by around 2 to 3 months, with the young then digging or using their own burrows.

How it usually works

  • The babies are born helpless and stay underground at first.
  • Around 6 weeks, they start coming out and exploring.
  • By midsummer, the young are generally on their own.

Do they “take over” the hole?

Not exactly. The burrow is more like a family nursery than a permanent inheritance, and once the young are mature, they disperse and the mother may also move to another den or summer burrow. In other words, the babies don’t normally stay and “own” the same hole long-term.

If this is in your yard

If you’re seeing a groundhog burrow in spring or early summer, there may be babies inside, so it’s best not to block the entrance too soon. Many wildlife groups say to wait until the young are old enough to leave before sealing anything up.

TL;DR: Mother groundhogs don’t usually abandon the burrow right away; the babies stay for weeks, then leave when they’re independent, and the hole is not usually “taken over” by the babies long-term.