Groundhog

## Description

The groundhog (Marmota monax) is a lowland rodent of North America. It was first scientifically described by Carl Linnaeus in 1758. These adorable animals play an important role maintaining healthy soil in woodland and plain areas. They are considered crucial habitat engineers. Groundhogs are also extremely intelligent animals forming complex social networks, able to understand social behavior, form kinship with their young, understand and communicate threats through whistling, and work cooperatively to solve tasks such as burrowing.

## Appearance

Groundhogs are one of the most well-known animal diggers in the world. They are much bigger than their relatives, such as chipmunks and squirrels. Double layers of fur keep them warm and waterproof, enabling them to cope in the cold and wick away moisture after being in the water. Their tails are shorter than that of other sciurids - only about one-fourth of body length. Male groundhogs average slightly larger than females and, like all marmots, they are considerably heavier during autumn (when engaged in autumn hyperphagia) than when emerging from hibernation in spring.

## Distribution

Groundhogs have a wide distribution in North America, especially in the east, being found from Georgia and Alabama in the United States to Ontario and northern Quebec. In the west, they go northward to Alaska and through the Northwest Territories and southern Yukon. Groundhogs like to be in open areas like fields, open forests, clearings, and rocky slopes. They usually dig their burrows where short-growing plants such as luxuriant grasses provide food for them and tend to avoid damp, swampy areas.

## Behavior

Groundhogs are diurnal and considered the most solitary of the marmot species. They live in aggregations, and their social organization also varies across populations. Groundhogs usually build summer and winter dens which typically have several entrances (and an escape hole) with many tunnels and chambers. Groundhogs usually eat twice a day in summer, each feeding session is no longer than 2 hours and they are often seen in the middle of the day sunning. When threatened, they arch their bodies, bare their teeth, and raise their tails. When alarmed, they use a high-pitched whistle to warn the rest of the colony, hence the name "whistle-pig". Groundhogs may squeal when fighting, seriously injured or caught by a predator. Other sounds groundhogs may make include low barks and a sound produced by grinding their teeth. Despite their heavy-bodied appearance, groundhogs are accomplished swimmers and occasionally climb trees when escaping predators or when they want to survey their surroundings. Typically, groundhogs are true hibernators, though, in the south of their range, they can remain active all through the year. For certain times of the year, groundhogs may enter torpor in the daytime.

## Diet

Groundhogs have a herbivorous (graminivorous, folivorous) diet and eat primarily wild grasses and other vegetation, including berries and agricultural crops, when available. They will also occasionally eat small animals, such as grubs, grasshoppers, snails, and even baby birds.

## Reproduction

Groundhogs are polygynous, with males having multiple mates each season. Males emerge earlier from hibernation than females so that they can establish territories and dominance hierarchies, and search for mates. Mating takes place soon after hibernation in spring, with the exact time varying by latitude and usually extending from early March until mid or late April. Gestation is 31 to 32 days, and 1 to 9 young are born, with most litters ranging between 3 and 5 pups. Weaning takes place around 44 days old. Very quickly pups become independent and leave their mothers around 2 months old. Groundhogs become reproductively mature at the age of 1, however maturity at the age of 2 is more usual.

## Population

### Population threats

Currently, there are no significant threats to groundhogs.

### Population number

According to IUCN, the groundhog is common and widespread throughout its range but no overall population estimate is available. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) and its numbers today remain stable.

### Ecological niche

Burrows abandoned by groundhogs provide shelter for a variety of wildlife including rabbits, raccoons, foxes, weasels, skunks, and opossums. In addition, when groundhogs dig their burrows, they move large amounts of subsoil, which helps with aerating and mixing the soil.

## Fun Facts for Kids

The groundhog is also known as a chuck, wood-shock, groundpig, whistlepig, whistler, thickwood badger, Canada marmot, monax, moonack, weenusk, red monk, land beaver, and, among French Canadians in eastern Canada, siffleux.

Although usually asocial, these animals sometimes greet each other by touching noses.

When outside their burrows, groundhogs stay alert when not feeding actively. Often one or more nearly-motionless individuals will be standing upright on their hind feet, looking out for danger. They have a high-pitched whistle to use when alarmed to warn others in the colony.

Groundhogs are skilled swimmers and climbers, which helps them escape less-skilled predators.

Groundhog burrows are very complex and each one has a "bathroom" chamber.

In central Ohio, groundhog burrows uncovered a historic village - now known as a famous archeological site.

Groundhogs have a reputation for predicting spring. According to legend, if on February 2nd they come out of their burrows, spring will come early.

Is the groundhog correct in predicting spring? This is debated by many people. Some say they are 75%-90% correct while others say 35%.

Groundhogs can shift over 700 pounds (317.5 kg) of soil while digging one den or burrow.

As a large rodent, the groundhog’s close relatives include chipmunks, squirrels, and prairie dogs.