Groundhog Part 1

Did you know that the groundhog has three other names? It is also known as a woodchuck, although it doesn’t chuck wood! It does however move dirt - and lots of it - with its feet, claws and teeth – up to 700 lbs of dirt and rock in a single day! The name 'woodchuck' derives from a Native American word, wuchak, that described several different animals of the same size and color. They are also nicknamed 'land beavers' since they are cousins to the beaver, but they don’t live in water. Their most descriptive name, though, is 'whistle pig' because they whistle to alert each other when alarmed.

Who are they? Groundhogs are the largest member of the squirrel family. They are covered with a dense gray undercoat and a longer coat of banded guard hairs giving them their frosted appearance.
They have short bushy tails, short legs and big incisors. Their heads are like submarine periscopes with their small ears, eyes and nose set high on their head so they can poke out of their burrows and scan their surroundings. These diurnal mammals are good climbers and swimmers and often climb trees to escape predators.

Where are they? Groundhogs are widely distributed throughout North America and common in the northeastern and central United States. They can be found as far north as Alaska, extending southeast to Alabama. They live near woodlands and prefer fields, roadsides, streams and farms. They are usually seen standing on their back legs eating greens while very close to the roadside.
Groundhogs excavate elaborate burrows up to 5 feet deep (below the frost line) and 45 feet long with one entrance and multiple exit holes for quick escapes. Groundhogs stay within 50 feet of their den. The entrance to the burrow has a built-in flood bump so water will not flow down the main tunnel. The burrows have multiple rooms including a bedroom, bathroom and living area, and the groundhogs keep them neat and orderly.

Come back for more info in Groundhog Part 2!