In digging, chucks use their strong forefeet to loosen the soil, then their hindfeet to kick the earth behind them. Even though a groundhog has short legs, it can run at a fairly fast clip for a short distance. 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.