Woodchuck

Contrary to a Legend, the Woodchuck or Groundhog does not emerge from its burrow to look for its shadow on February 2nd. instead, it usually hibernates until late winter. soon after emerging, male woodchucks battle one another, using their teeth as weapons, and then seek out the females. the young are born 4 weeks after mating. although blind, hairless, and extremely small at birth, they are ready for sorties outside the burrow within a month. adults are frequently seen sunbathing atop the entrance mound, sitting upright on guard for predators, or waddling along as they stuff themselves with clover, alfalfa, and other plants.groundhogs, also called woodchucks, are large rodents. They are also one of the 14 species of marmot, or ground squirrels. In fact, they are the largest members of the squirrel family. Most people probably know the groundhog as a weather prognosticator; however, those predictions are a mixed bag.
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From head to rump, groundhogs are 17.75 to 24 inches (45 to 61 centimeters) long, according to National Geographic. They weigh around 13 lbs. (6 kilograms), which is about twice the average weight of a newborn human baby. Like other squirrels, groundhogs have long tails that grow around 7 to 9.75 in (18 to 25 cm) long. 
These round creatures look like little bears when they stand up on their hind legs. Groundhogs also have sharp claws that they use to dig impressive burrows in the ground. During the warm months, a groundhog's incisors grow about a sixteenth of an inch (1.6 millimeters) each week to keep up with their frenzied eating schedule, according to the National Wildlife Federation. 
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Groundhogs are found only in North America, from Canada down to the southern United States. They like woodland areas that bump up against more open areas. They dig burrows that can be 6 feet (1.8 meters) deep, and 20 feet (6 m) wide. These underground homes can also have two to a dozen entrances, according to the National Wildlife Federation. Typically, they have a burrow in the woods for the winter and a burrow in grassy areas for the warmer months. Groundhogs keep their burrows tidy by changing out the nesting found inside from time to time.Category:Rodents
Category:Mammals
Category:Wildlife