Groundhog

NPS Photo

Scientific Name

Marmota monax

Identification

• 4-14 lbs
• Have a broad, round body with short, powerful legs and a flat, bushy tail
• Have a blunt nose, rounded ears, and incisors (front teeth) that stick out from its mouth
• Generally brown with paler coloring on their belly

Range and Habitat

Groundhogs are found across the eastern and central United States, and their range also extend north into Canada and Alaska. They usually live near rocky areas like valley bottoms along forest edges. As their name suggests, groundhogs live in the ground and are exceptional diggers. They create complex burrow systems that can have as many as 10 entrances. They use their burrows all year-long and are usually only active above ground at dawn and dusk.

Diet

Groundhogs are generalist herbivores, which means they eat whatever plants are in season at the time. This could range from their favorites like clover, grasses, and alfalfa to some less popular choices like grain, bark, and leaves. Groundhogs primarily get their water intake from the dewy leaves that they eat and are able to fluctuate their body temperature to conserve water.

Fun Facts

• Groundhogs are the largest members of the Squirrel family.
• They are known by several other names like woodchucks and whistlepigs.
• Groundhogs hibernate in the winter, and their weight can fluctuate significantly between when they enter hibernation versus when they emerge in the spring. For example, they are around 14 pounds in the fall and around 5 pounds in the spring.
• During hibernation, their body temperature can drop to 37 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Their burrows can be so intricate that they contain a bathroom chamber.

 

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