Woodchucks climb well, ascending and descending trees head first. They have good balance and frequently walk along wooden fence rails. They use their front paws much as people use their hands, to clutch stems of clover or hold apples while feeding. Woodchucks can produce several sounds. They often let out a sharp whistle for an alarm call.
Woodchucks hibernate during the winter.
They eat heavily throughout summer and early fall to accumulate body fat and prepare to shelter in their burows all winter. In the spring, males emerge from hibernation before females, and during February and March fight aggressively. By mid-June or early July, they are ready to leave the home burrows and establish their own territories. This move is perilous for young woodchucks, and many are killed by vehicles or fall prey to dogs and foxes. The young often take up residence in abandoned dens.