These largest ground squirrels were known to Native Americans as otcheck (Algonquian) or wuchak (Cree) — names which were later corrupted and Americanized to woodchuck. Also called groundhogs for their habits and appearance, especially in late summer when they've been packing on the pounds in preparation for a long cold winter, these furry waddlers are common in of the eastern US and almost all of Canada. When startled or alarmed they can emit a shrill warning whistle, inspiring the nickname whistle pig.
Groundhogs are scientifically known as Marmota monax. They are the largest members of the squirrel family, Sciuridae under the order Rodentia. There are fourteen species of marmots, six of which live in North America. Of these six, Marmota monax, the groundhog or woodchuck, has the largest range, encompassing much of Canada and the eastern United States.
Groundhogs and Woodchucks in Popular Culture
The world's most famous groundhog is Punxsutawney Phil, who annually emerges from his artificial tree stump in Pennsylvania to make his weather prediction each February 2nd on Groundhog Day. If Phil sees his shadow he predicts six more weeks of winter, but if not the prediction is spring will come early. Other areas of the US have their own groundhog prognosticators, but none as famous as Phil.
PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) called for Phil to be replaced by an animatronic groundhog in 2010 saying that the screaming crowds and flashing cameras at the annual Punxsutawney Groundhog Day celebration would cause a shy animal like the groundhog to become stressed. The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club was unconvinced, however, and Phil remains on duty.
Groundhogs don't only lend their names to this annual holiday, though. The groundhog has even had his name in lights in the 1993 movie Groundhog Day which remains a popular DVD rental.
Many other products feature groundhogs and woodchucks as mascots including Groundhog shoes, Ground Hog earth drills and augers, and Woodchuck Cider. Woodchuck is also a popular name for furniture, lumber and woodworking items as well as furnaces and wood chippers.
Of course, woodchucks are also known for the popular tongue-twister, "how much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?" Answer: "A woodchuck would chuck as much wood as a woodchuck could chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood."
Description and Life of the Groundhog — Does the Groundhog Really Hibernate Until Spring?
Groundhogs weigh an average of about 13 lb. (6 kg) and are about 17 - 24 inches in length (45 - 61 cm). Their stocky, chunky bodies are covered in dense brown fur. They have a short bushy tail. Their strong, short legs are well-adapted for digging with sturdy claws. They excavate extensive burrows of up to 45 feet (15 m) which can extend up to 5 feet deep under the surface of the ground.
Woodchucks prefer open cleared land, forest edges, or rocky slopes, rather than dense woodlands. They avoid damp or swampy areas where the water table may be too close to the surface for excavating a burrow or areas which may be prone to flooding. They prefer to dig their burrows near luxurious grasses. They are active during the day, especially near dawn and dusk. They feed on a wide variety of vegetation including grasses, ferns, fruits, and vegetables.
Groundhogs frequently escape predators such as coyotes, foxes, bobcats, dogs, owls and hawks, by diving into their burrows, but they can also climb trees. Auto collisions and human hunters also claim groundhog lives.
These stocky, chunky burrowing mammals are true hibernators. Groundhogs spend the summer gorging on a variety of vegetation to fatten up for hibernation. When a woodchuck goes into hibernation it tucks its head between its front legs and curls up in a ball in a specialized hibernation chamber below the frost line in its winter burrow. While hibernating its body temperature may go as low as 34ºF (1ºC) and its heartbeat can be as slow as 4 beats per minute. They may take a breath only once every 6 minutes.
Rather than awakening on February 2nd groundhogs usually rouse from hibernation in late February or early March depending on latitude. Males emerge first and begin immediately looking for a mate. Female woodchucks give birth in April or May to an average of 4 young.
Groundhogs in the Garden —Groundhog Deterrents and Woodchuck Control Methods
A hungry woodchuck in the garden can decimate rows of vegetables. A single adult groundhog can eat about one to one and a half pounds (.45-.68kg) of vegetation a day. In the garden they will eat peas, beans, carrot tops, squash, strawberries, and other fruits and vegetables. They also enjoy corn, oats, alfalfa, and clover.
Their burrows can also occasionally undermine building foundations and horses have been known to step in a burrow and break a leg.
The best woodchuck control method may just be a sturdy fence around the garden. A fence that is buried about a foot below the ground surface to deter the groundhog from digging under it and that is angled at 45 degrees at the top to prevent the bandit from climbing over to raid the garden may be the most effective groundhog deterrent available.
There are also a variety of other groundhog control methods including groundhog traps (both live traps and kill traps), woodchuck repellents (predator urine), carbon monoxide fumigants, and groundhog hunting. Groundhogs are not endangered and it is legal to hunt them for sport in most states.
For more information on other burrowing mammals, please see The Mole – Pest, Rodent, Friend or Foe?
Sources:
Field Guides, eNature.com, n.d. Web.
2 Feb, 2010
North American Mammals, Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, n.d. Web.
2 Feb, 2010
Mary Robinson Crews - Mary is a freelance writer who holds a BA in Journalism from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She has worked as a music ...
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