Can Groundhogs Eat Kudzu?
Groundhogs like to eat kudzu. In fact, they tend to follow patches of weedy kudzu. The plants don’t pose a threat to humans, but the burrows they make can pose a problem for livestock. The burrows can stretch 45 feet underground, causing the surface of the ground to weaken. While groundhogs aren’t dangerous, it’s wise to encourage them to relocate elsewhere.
| Can Groundhogs Eat Kudzu?
Groundhogs like to eat kudzu. In fact, they tend to follow patches of weedy kudzu. The plants don’t pose a threat to humans, but the burrows they make can pose a problem for livestock. The burrows can stretch 45 feet underground, causing the surface of the ground to weaken. While groundhogs aren’t dangerous, it’s wise to encourage them to relocate elsewhere.
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The plant grows throughout the world, but it is native to East Asia. It was brought to the U.S. in 1876 from Japan. Within a decade, it had made its way into the Southeast. While you shouldn’t attempt to move it, try to keep your property free of it. Otherwise, you’ll have to deal with the wrath of a gnawing groundhog.
A single plant of kudzu can weigh more than 200 pounds. It needs to be washed thoroughly, peeled, and cut. The white pulp underneath the skin is edible. Most of the time, this pulp is dried and then pulverized. It is sold in Asian markets as ‘kudzu starch’. It is a thickening agent that can be used in dishes. For example, strawberry kumquat cake is delicious.
Kudzu has a high content of iron and protein. Its leaves can be eaten like spinach and collards. Young kudzu shoots are tender and taste like snow peas. Its blossoms can be eaten to make jelly, candy, and syrup. The flowers can be fermented into wine. The roots are rich in iron and protein and are used as a food additive.
Kudzu was first imported to the United States from Japan in 1876. Within a decade, it spread throughout the Southeast. In the United States, kudzu is a natural enemy and can be a nuisance to property owners. If you have kudzu in your yard, you need to protect it and keep it away from groundhogs. Despite its reputation, kudzu is an excellent source of food for wildlife.
Kudzu has no taste, but it is an excellent source of survival food. Its long, bristled leaves are covered in tiny bristles. Unlike poison oak, kudzu doesn’t have a flavor, so it isn’t good for your pets. But if you have the kudzu, you will have a very hard time finding it. The plant is so prolific in the South that it has taken over much of the land.
The plants that grow kudzu have tiny purple flowers. These flowers are hidden beneath the leaves and aren’t visible to humans. However, the kudzu plant has a wide variety of benefits. It serves as a food source for animals and a fuel source for human beings. (Xanax) In fact, the plant is so nutritious that it’s good for the environment. While kudzu can cause significant damage, it doesn’t spread very far.