you might think that groundhogs are pretty shy animals.

你可能會覺得土撥鼠是種非常害羞的動物。

They're actually anything but.

它們實際上一點都不害羞。

What started out as a funny sight turned a little bit scary for a man from Hampton.

「對這個住在漢普頓的人來說，本來很有趣的畫面變得有點可怕。」

You see those teeth on that guy?

「你看到那傢伙的那些牙齒了嗎？」

Imagine finding this at your front door.

「想像這樣的畫面出現在你的前門。」

They might be called ground...hogs,

他們雖然被稱為地表下的...豬，

but they're not related to hogs at all.

但跟豬一點關係都沒有。

They're actually the largest species in the squirrel family,

它們實際上是松鼠家族中最大的物種，

and they are equally ubiquitous.

而且它們幾乎無所不在。

You can find groundhogs all over the central and eastern US.

你可以在整個美國中部及東部找到土撥鼠。

In Arkansas, for example, there's an estimated 67,000.

例如在阿肯色州就大約有 67000 隻。

That's about one groundhog for every 45 humans.

比例大約是一隻土撥鼠比 45 個人。

And wherever they are, they make their presence known.

而且不管它們在哪，都會讓人感受它們的存在感爆棚。

Similar to beavers,

跟河狸相似，

groundhogs have rapidly growing incisors,

土撥鼠擁有快速生長的門牙，

which they keep from growing too long by chewing and gnawing on just about anything they can get their teeth on,

藉由咀嚼及啃咬任何牙齒可及的東西上避免它們的門牙長的太長，

including cables, hoses, and other rubbery materials.

包含電線、管子以及其他橡膠材料。

One groundhog reportedly chewed the wires inside of a car in Nebraska,

據說有隻土撥鼠在內布拉斯加州嚼爛了一台車內的線路，

costing $1,800 in damage repairs.

造成 1800 元的損害維修費用。

But they don't just wreak havoc aboveground.

但它們不只在地面上造成巨大的損害。

Groundhogs are burrowers by nature.

土撥鼠是天生的穴居動物。

They live, breed, and hibernate underground.

它們在地面下生活、繁殖及冬眠。

But before they can do that, they have to dig,

但在可以做這些事前，他們必須挖阿挖，

and dig, and dig, and dig, and dig, and dig.

挖阿挖，挖阿挖，挖阿挖，不斷地挖。

Their tunnels can be anywhere from half a meter deep to 1 1/2 meters deep,

它們的隧道可以在地表下半公尺到一又二分之一公尺深的任何位置，

and they can be up to 18 meters long.

而且最長可以到十八公尺長。

That's about as long as a bowling lane.

就跟一條保齡球道一樣長。

Their burrows can harm crops,

它們挖的洞穴也會對農作物造成傷害，

weaken foundations of buildings,

破壞建築物的地基，

and damage farm equipment that may fall in.

並且讓可能掉進洞穴的農作機械損壞。

In one case, it's been said they dug up bones in a cemetery.

在某些情況下，也有人說它們在墓園裡挖出骸骨。

But even if you don't have a lot of land,

但即便你沒有一大片的土地，

your home could still be a target.

你家可能還是目標之一。

Groundhogs like grassy open areas

土撥鼠喜歡青翠的開放區域

because they don't have big obstacles

因為這樣的區域不會有大型的障礙物

like tree roots and giant rocks.

像是樹根及大石頭。

So that pretty little garden or that freshly mowed lawn,

所以漂亮的小花園或是剛整理好的草坪，

that is a free-for-all for groundhogs.

那對土撥鼠來說就要失控啦。

And a fence won't keep them out either

而且圍籬也沒辦法阻止它們

'cause they could just burrow underneath it or climb over.

因為它們可以只要從地下挖洞鑽過去或是直接爬過去。

Yeah, that's right, groundhogs can climb too.

沒錯，土撥鼠也能爬牆。

For example, during floods, they've been known to climb chain-link fences to escape rising water.

例如在大淹水期間，它們曾經為了逃離上升的水位而爬上鐵絲網圍籬

And just about the only way to keep them out is an electric fence,

而唯一能阻止它們的只有通電的圍籬，

which can cost between $100 and $350 depending on the size of your yard.

依據你庭院的大小要價 100 到 350 元不等。

And removing a groundhog from your property?

如果說要把土撥鼠趕出你的地盤呢？

Getting a wildlife control professional to help could cost about $400 per groundhog!

找一個野生動物控制專家來幫忙需要 400 元，單一隻土撥鼠就要 400 元喔！

Worst comes to worst,

最糟糕的是，

you definitely don't want to try and handle them on your own

你絕不會想試著自行處理它們的

since some groundhogs can be pretty aggressive animals.

因為某些土撥鼠的攻擊性很強。

For example, in 2018, a groundhog chased a woman in the parking lot of her office building.

例如在 2018 年，一隻土撥鼠在某位女士的辦公大樓停車場追著她跑。

Luckily, she made it to her car.

幸運地，她成功躲回她的車內了。

But even then, when her coworkers came to help her,

但即使那樣，當她的同事前去幫忙時，

the groundhog forced them to retreat back inside.

那隻土撥鼠逼得他們不得不躲回辦公大樓內。

Even worse, groundhogs have been known to carry rabies,

更糟的是，目前已知土撥鼠帶有狂犬病毒，

which can make them even more aggressive and dangerous.

讓它們更加有攻擊性而且更加危險。

So maybe don't keep them near your face.

所以最好不要讓它們靠近你的臉。