Groundhogs are known for eating crops and even destroying grassland due to their burrowing, often bringing damage to property and livestock as well as bringing potential parasites. However, this is not the story of an unusual case in the United States.
A groundhog responsible for eating a Delaware man's garden for years was finally caught on video, according to reports earlier this week.
The vegetable-stealing animal started its garden raid back in 2019, a time when the garden's owner Jeff Permar first noticed the incident when he observed that his garden was being pillaged by an unknown creature. It is only until he installed cameras that the identity of the raider was revealed.
Chunk the Groundhog
In an Instagram post by user "chunk_the_groundhog," a video shows that the groundhog named "Chunk" is seen munching on some garden produce in what appeared to be in the garden or backyard of Permar.
The groundhog social media star also has a YouTube channel called "Chunk the Groundhog" with approximately 130k subscribers and 700 videos as of Thursday, September 7. In Chunk's channel, there are multiple videos of him showing the internet star, along with other groundhogs, foraging in Permar's garden with a label "Chunk Land" and "The Chunks & Friends."
According to reports, the Permar was initially enraged at the sight of his garden being ransacked by the groundhog raider. However, the Delaware man eventually became affectionate with the persistent mammal despite eating his broccoli, corn, tomatoes, and other garden produce.
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Caught on Cameras
Prior to becoming viral, Chunk the groundhog remained undetected until Permar installed surveillance cameras, specifically motion-detecting cameras. In some of the clips, Chunk can be seen starting into the cameras as if it was intentionally taunting the Delaware garden owner.
Since then, Chunk eventually invited a female groundhog into the garden, which was named "Nibbles" by Permar. The pair also birthed to several groundhogs nicknamed "Niblet, Nugget, and Snacks," according to a report.
Currently, Permar reportedly expressed that he learned to live with the wild animals by sharing a portion of his garden with Chunk and his family, while still maintaining a side of his garden for his own.
Groundhog Behavior and Habitat
Although the story between Chunk the groundhog and Permar may be an inspiring story, some other groundhogs are treated differently since the animals themselves are considered pests by many.
In fact, some gardeners might think of groundhogs as pests, according to the non-profit organization The Human Society of the United States, which clarified that the shy creatures are also an important part of the ecosystem. For instance, the provide for large predators and their famous 'burrows' serve as shelter to other animals like amphibians, foxes, reptiles, and others.
Despite being rodents, groundhogs have an essential role in the environment, including providing food for microorganisms and bringing minerals to the surface, as well as shielding animals from their predators.
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