The eyes, ears and nose of the woodchuck are located at the top of the head. This allows maximum use of the senses when viewing over the rim of the burrow while remaining largely concealed. Although they are slow runners, woodchucks are alert and quickly scurry to their dens when approached. Tops of head, face, legs, and tall are dark brown. Sides of the face, nose, chin, and lips are buffy white.
Underparts are light buff.
Most of body is grizzled brownish, with a cinnamon cast. Incisors are white. Immature woodchucks are paler than adults. Occasionally pure white or nearly all black individuals occur. Both sexes are alike in color.