Chunky Groundhog Loves To Devour Crisp Veggies & Absolutely Works The Camera

Meet Chunk the groundhog, who has gained a Facebook following for being "the messiest eater on the internet (and proud of it)," according to his bio. In his videos, the chunky critter devours crisp veggies while working the camera — making everything from broccoli to cucumbers look adorably silly as it goes down. 

In one video, simply titled "Chunk OG," the groundhog is seen sitting up gnawing on a head of broccoli, only stopping to make sure he looks super cute for the camera. Using the catchphrase "Chunk don't eat junk," Chunk the Groundhog's social media account is full of videos of the well-fed backyard creature savagely nibbling and living his life. While he's not a pet, he apparently lives in the woods behind a house that has set up picnic tables and cameras to capture him eating the resident's hand-picked garden offerings, giving everyone who watches a much-needed smile. (Similar to Greg the groundhog whose short-lived farm visit became a viral sensation.) 

"How much broccoli can a woodchuck chomp if a woodchuck can chomp broccoli?" joked one person in the comments, as another added, "Chunk senses the judgment coming from somewhere, hence his pauses." With dozens of reels going back several years, there's plenty more cuteness and cracked jokes where this one came from!

Many of the videos on Chunk's Facebook page are of the cute critter noshing on garden veggies — like this one where he happily crunches on a carrot, providing some serious ASMR (Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response) for those into that. But are all veggies good for groundhogs?

Well, groundhogs aren't exactly picky eaters, but they definitely have their favorites. They'll happily munch on tender veggies like lettuce, broccoli, green beans, cucumbers, corn, and even pumpkins. On the flip side, strong-smelling veggies and herbs — like lavender, mint, rosemary, and sage — tend to get passed over. Sometimes, they may take a bite out of a tomato, pepper, or eggplant, too, but these often rank lower on their menu than leafy greens. If vegetables aren't readily available, they'll also chow down on clover, dandelions, and other wild greens.

Not everything growing in a garden is safe for groundhogs, though, as onions, garlic, rhubarb leaves, green potatoes, and certain ornamental plants can be toxic, similar to some foods that dogs also shouldn't eat. Pesticides, herbicides, and slug bait are also serious hazards these curious veggie-loving critters should avoid.

While Chunk the groundhog has a pretty sweet backyard setup, many people lament groundhogs when they come and eat from their gardens, no matter how cute they are. But there are ways to deter them while keeping both your veggies and the groundhog safe.

A sturdy wire fence is your best defense, standing about 3 feet high with the bottom buried roughly 12 inches underground to discourage both climbing and digging. You can also make your garden less appealing with natural deterrents by spraying diluted castor oil around the perimeter and planting high-scent herbs such as mint, thyme, and lavender. Of course, be sure to avoid anything that could poison or injure wildlife and/or friendly wild animals that love humans. 

Finally, harvest ripe vegetables promptly and remove fallen produce, keeping weeds, brush, and woodpiles cleared away too. A combination of these simple steps will protect your plants and give groundhogs a reason to safely move along. Of course, you could always leave a peace offering out on your back porch and film it, a la Chunk, and find yourself a social-media following in the process!