Common components of orchard ground cover selected as food by captive woodchucks [Composants communs de la couverture du sol des vergers sélectionnés comme nourriture par des marmottes des bois captives].

Résumé

I examined diet selection by captive woodchucks (Marmota monax) for 20 species of plants commonly found in ground cover in Connecticut orchards. Cafeteria-style feeding trials indicated that the most frequently selected foods were dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) and common plantain (Plantago major), whereas orchard grass (Dactylis glomerata). Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia), and common toadflax (Linaria vulgaris) were selected least often. Sequential elimination of the most frequently selected foods resulted in increas use of mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris), campion (Lychnis alba), red clover (Trifolium pratense), aster (Aster vimineus), poison ivy (Rhus radicans,), common strawberry (Fragaria virginiana), old-field cinquefoil (Potentilla simplex), bird vetch (Vicia cracca), and goldenrod (Solidago rugosa). Management of ground cover to reduce the abundance of plant species selected by woodchucks might reduce woodchuck numbers and the problems they cause.