Groundhog - 

Marmota monax

The groundhog, also called woodchuck, is a member of the Sciuridae (squirrel) family and is the largest Sciurid in its range.  The woodchuck occurs in eastern North America south to northeastern Mississippi, central Alabama, north Georgia and northwestern South Carolina.    They are found throughout western North Carolina and into the northeastern part of the state.  Borders include eastern Oklahoma and eastern North Dakota to the west and north across southern Canada into east-central Alaska.

DESCRIPTION  

The groundhog is a large stocky rodent with a brown flattened head, a blunt nose and a relatively short tail.  It has short grizzled fur that appears as varying shades of brown or gray.  The under-fur of the groundhog is blackish brown at the base and tipped with a grayish color.  The exterior guard hairs are tipped broadly with a buff white giving the groundhog a frosted appearance.  The lips, chin and sides of the face are also buff white, and the legs, feet and tail are usually brown or nearly black. The woodchuck usually weighs anywhere from 5 to 10 pounds, measuring 22-27 inches on average.

HABITS AND HABITATS  

The groundhog inhabits areas with dry soil in flat or rolling country and is also abundant on stream banks or other raised areas.  The groundhog may also be found in forested areas and in wooded groves.  Groundhogs are typically solitary and tend to be most active in early morning and late afternoon.  They are known for their extensive burrow systems, descending to depths of 4 feet and extending laterally up to 50 feet.  The burrows consist of several areas for nesting, food storage and latrine use.  Groundhogs eat a variety of grasses and other green plants including clover, alfalfa, plantain and strawberry.  They also enjoy eating vegetables such as carrots, cabbage, celery, peas and corn which can be a nuisance to gardeners.  The woodchuck hibernates during the cold winter weather for around three to four months when heart rate and body temperature decrease significantly to conserve energy.  Some groundhogs in southern areas hibernate for less time or not at all.  Fat gained in the summer is used during hibernation causing the groundhog to lose as much as 20 to 37 percent of body weight during winter!  Most groundhog mating occurs between late February and early April.  Three to five young are born after a gestation period of about 31days.  Groundhogs can live up to five or six years wild but rarely reach this age due to predation.  Predators of groundhogs include red foxes, coyotes and red-tailed hawks.

HISTORY 

Groundhogs were scarce when America was first settled, but as woodland edge, fence rows and meadows increased, the  groundhog prospered and their range expanded. Woodchucks were formerly trapped for their fur, which was used to make cheap fur coats.  Now humans hunt groundhogs, and automobiles take a heavy toll on  population numbers.  Groundhogs occupy an important niche in the wildlife community because the burrows they build provide homes for other animals including skunks, foxes, weasels, opossums and rabbits.  According to folklore, on February 2nd, if a groundhog emerging from its burrow fails to see its shadow, it will leave its burrow, signifying winter will soon end.  If the groundhog sees its shadow and returns to its burrow, this signifies that winter will continue for six more weeks.  February 2nd has become an annual holiday called Groundhog Day. 

MEET OUR GROUNDHOG    

The Nature Center has one groundhog, named Nibbles. She lives behind the scenes and makes regular appearances in education programs as an animal ambassador. She is fed a diet of leafy greens, vegetables and fruits. Nibbles came to the Nature Center in September of 2007 at 3 years of age. As a result of people trying to keep her as a pet, she lacks survival skills, does not fear people and, therefore,  cannot be released in the wild.  Attempts to make pets out of wild animals often fail and put people and animals in danger.  It is illegal in North Carolina to keep a native mammal in captivity without a permit.

 
This article may be reproduced for classroom use by students and educators but may not be reprinted otherwise without written consent from the Nature Center.
©2002 WNC Nature Center