Although many Groundhogs live in our area, groundhog-babies are only found rarely. They mostly live near motorways and this represent a big danger for them. Sometimes I see whole groundhog families on the roadside, which have been run-over by cars. Marmots dig their dens very deep into the ground. This is why marmot babies have less chance of getting found in their den incase something happens to their mother and because the babies cry is not as loud as that of raccoon- babies. And so they must starve.

However in 2002 two of them had luck. They had been found and then got finally given to us. Now we had the opportunity to care for these about two week old groundhog babies. For me it was love at first sight and my husband immediately wanted to be in charge of taking care of the babies, as I was already busy with caring for raccoon-babies.

At first we had to get informed, as we had no idea and no experience in raising marmot-babies.

We had to prepare special food! They did not accept the baby bottle, but they drank well with the syringe. There is a real big difference between raising marmots and raccoon babies. After a few days these funny animals started to develop. They grew fast and the cat basket, in which they slept, soon became too small for them. They started fighting and sometimes we could hear their loud whistling. So they got a new home. A small hut, which we had built particularly for small animal orphans, was still free.

What we did not know yet was: A hut is not suitable for juvenile groundhogs. They kept on fighting and became rather aggressive.

Then we put our marmots into our small enclosure, in which we had originally had our small rabbits.

However they only stayed at the most for one hour in the rabbit enclosure and then the two dug themselves out of it. They then immediately began, to dig a hole on the small "island" in front our house. Before they went to sleep we put them back into their small hut as a precaution, because I feared that an animal could get them. Soon they had their den finished. I do not know, how deep they had dug, but we took away three wheelbarrows filled with earth and stones.

We cannot confirm the Statement of many specialists that groundhogs do not become very tame. , Footfoot and Little Footfoot, as we called the two, followed us everywhere. My dog "Honney" loves the Footfoots, probably because of their smell. My husband thinks, that they smell like small elephants! Honney did not let the two out of sight.

The marmot babies even played together with the raccoon babies, although small raccoons are sometimes somewhat rough. Then the small groundhogs would squeak and I started to doubt.

Gradually I could observe that they got along well with one another. Footfoot is like a small dachshund. Everything he thinks he could need or use he pulls into the den. Soft toys, towels and sometimes he even pulls our garbage bag right up to the den, but unfortunately the entrance is too small!

At the end of July we let the two stay the night in their den. They obviously enjoyed their freedom. If they play together, sometimes the raccoon babies want to follow the marmots into their den, but the entrance is not large enough for raccoons.

The raccoons sleep under our terrace, because it is nice and cool there. The Footfoots finally examined this place as well and laid down to rest next to the raccoons! Soon the sleeping place became too crowded: so they made it bigger! One morning the sleeping place of the raccoons had three new entrances. With a lot of effort we had laid the inner court out with paving-stones. The Footfoots simply removed the Stone-slabs at the edges, because their den absolutely must have several exits!

We tried several times to close the entrances again but it was not possible to repair it back to the original condition. The groundhogs kept on building! So we accepted that our terrace had been rearranged…

In August another little marmot arrived at ours. It was certainly already four weeks old and we only fed it for a short time with the syringe, because it could already eat alone. We tried soon to introduce it into the group. It worked at first attempt! Our two marmots accepted him immediately and he was allowed to move into their den. Now raccoon- babies, marmots and even our rabbits live together under our terrace. In the morning the Footfoots scratch like small dogs at the door and begs for milk! They jump on my lap and chew at my fingers. If the door is left open, they come into my kitchen and try to open the cupboards.

It is a bit unusual, if we enjoy our coffee in the morning on the terrace. All animals share the early morning hours with us. And we share our breakfast with them and enjoy ourselves.

I can definitely not confirm that marmots do not become tame. Our groundhogs are as tame as our dogs. As soon as a stranger enters our property, they strike alarm and a loud whistling begins.

The dogs bark, the marmots whistle and all raccoons and marmots disappear!

Groundhogs are very clean and love a dry den. Each time, after it has rained, they take away my towels or my kitchen roles. I do have to watch, where I hang my laundry to dry. My son forgets that sometimes and hangs his towel after he has been swimming simply over a chair. Immediately a marmot will drag it into the den. I do not know, how much they have already dragged off, but I cannot be mad at them, because they just want to live comfortably too.

When we visited an animal shelter in September, they gave us a marmot, which did not have any siblings (more about her under "experiences: Petzi"). At home we straight away introduced him to members of his species. Since he had never seen another marmot up close before, they fought vigorously and my Footfoots wanted to drive him away. It did not last for a long though and the "new one" was soon allowed into the den. Suddenly the groundhogs began to dig near the old den a new one. Probably it had become too crowded with them being four now. In the meantime they have built four different constructions and they move from one to the other or they sleep with the raccoons!

Many people predicted that if I have marmots the flowers in my garden wouldn't grow anymore! But that did not prove itself to be true!

Since I only seed wild flowers, the whole property flowers here! I only have to watch my sunflowers, as everyone loves them! The squirrels eat the seeds, the marmots the first sprouts and the raccoons love playing on the high stalks. However there are sufficient of them and some get tall! Also half of the vegetable garden always survives. That means: one half of the salad for the groundhogs and rabbits and the other half for us. There is enough for everyone and everybody is happy!

Animals are not stupid: they only eat so much and leave the rest so it can recover again.

Nature makes sure, all by itself, for the biological balance.

Our marmots have been living with us for three years now! I always know when winter has come to an end. As soon as my marmots stretch their nose out of the snow and beg for salad at the door, spring is very near. Maybe the groundhogs will get offspring this year for the first time. That would be really great, but unfortunately I have not seen any signs up to now!

Anyhow I know that groundhogs do not cause damage in the garden, as long as one shares with them! What does it matter, if they dig a den or eat the grass sprouts? At least I never need to mow the lawn! We built our house into nature. Therefore we must share with the wild animals! If everybody would do so, not only the humans would thrive, but also the animals. Because, as already said: there is enough nature for everyone, if no one goes over the top! To make this understandable to humans, who defend their pretty garden with electric fences and even poison, is very difficult. Each flower is more important to them than a living creature. But from experience I can say that these people often have more damage in their gardens than I do. Probably the animals feel, how much I love them and my flowers. They share everything with us! And we share with them! The flowers, the food and our love!

Footfoot and his friends still live with us. This year Footfoot had five babies and we thought the whole time she was a boy. We are very proud of our Footfoot family. Perhaps our Footfoot babies will become as tame as their mother, which should be fun. Hopefully they won't be able to open the kitchen cupboards, like their mother. Well as a granny one can hardly say no, or can they???