Maine Groundhog Hit by Car on the Mend, Now a New Mom

A groundhog injured in Augusta is on the mend and now has a few unexpected additions to care for.

Staff at Wilderness Miracles Wildlife Rehab say the animal was brought in on April 22 after being hit by a car. When she arrived, rehabilitators say she was dealing with road rash and had lost fur along her back end.

The team nicknamed her “Miss Groundhog,” and over the past couple of weeks, she has steadily recovered from her injuries.

Then came a surprise.

During routine morning rounds early Thursday, staff discovered Miss Groundhog had given birth. The rehab center says she is now caring for a litter of newborn pups while continuing her recovery.

According to Maine Audubon, groundhogs typically mate in the spring, with babies born in April or May. The young usually stay with their mother for about four to six weeks before they are weaned.

For now, Miss Groundhog and her babies will remain indoors at the rehab facility while staff monitor their health and progress. In about a month, they are expected to be moved to an outdoor enclosure as they grow stronger, WMTW reported.

The ultimate goal is to release the entire family back into the wild in the Augusta area.

Rehabilitators say cases like this highlight both the risks wildlife face near roadways and the resilience animals can show with a little help.