London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) faces a new challenge involving groundhogs amidst an ongoing fraud investigation and infrastructure issues. Groundhogs have been spotted burrowing at various LHSC locations, including Victoria Hospital, Children’s Hospital, and University Hospital. The animals pose a risk of injuring themselves and damaging critical infrastructure by burrowing through or chewing on systems like electrical networks.
Chris Askew, LHSC’s director of facilities operations, noted evidence of groundhog activity surfacing within the past two weeks. He expressed concerns about the animals interacting with plumbing and electrical systems beneath the LHSC grounds, potentially disrupting operations. Wildlife experts mentioned that groundhogs have a tendency to chew through wires and may mistake electrical cables for roots due to their behavior.
To address the issue, the hospital is working with an external wildlife removal company to relocate the groundhogs using traps. The effort aims to ensure the safety of the animals and prevent any disruptions to operations. While specific locations of groundhog sightings were not disclosed, it was mentioned that the animals are typically found in isolated areas with minimal foot and vehicle traffic.
Groundhogs are drawn to LHSC properties due to factors like soft soil, maintained greenery, and the presence of shrubs and gardens around the buildings. Construction activities nearby could also be pushing groundhogs into the hospital grounds, according to experts. There has been a noticeable increase in groundhog-related calls in the city, with wildlife removal specialists attributing this trend to the animals adapting to urban environments.
While the risk of groundhogs damaging large-scale buildings at LHSC is considered low, homeowners with groundhog issues are advised to seek assistance from reputable wildlife removal services. The experts recommend respecting these creatures from a distance, emphasizing their mild nature and lack of aggressive behavior.