Interesting Facts About Groundhogs

Groundhogs go by many different names. They can also be called woodchucks, marmots, or whistle pigs. They are the only animal that has a holiday named after them. On Groundhog's Day people eagerly await for him to come out of his hole. If he sees his shadow he will scurry back into his hole and there will be six more weeks of winter.

Groundhogs are small (about nine pounds in weight and twenty inches in length) and can be found in Eastern United States and Southern Canada.

Their thick bodies are brown in color with lighter colored fur mixed in giving them a grizzled appearance. The legs of the groundhog are short and they can run about ten miles an hour.

Groundhogs live in holes or burrows that they dig in the ground. The long curved claws make them very good diggers. They will dig their homes in open fields or at the edge of the forest, near their food source.

They eat clover, grass, and flowers. Because their food source is not available in the winter, they hibernate, meaning they sleep through the winter. Eating a lot in the fall builds up their body fat and lets them survive the winter without eating.

Groundhogs are members of the rodent family, as are mice, beavers, and porcupines.

The large sharp front teeth continue to grow throughout the animal's lifetime. Constant gnawing keeps the teeth from growing too long.

The burrows are multi-purposed. They provide shelter from the elements, protection from predators, and keep the woodchucks cool in the summertime.

When woodchucks sense danger, they will sit up and make a sound that sounds very much like a whistle, hence the name whistle pig. Then they will run and hide in their burrows. There will be at least two holes or entrances to the burrow so they won't get trapped underground. Predators include: wolves, foxes, coyotes, and eagles.

Groundhogs mate in the spring and one month later the young are born. They are born in the burrow with three to five babies in each litter. The mother cares for and raises the young (known as pups or kits) by herself.

The pups enter the world blind and with no fur, weighing only about one ounce and their lifespan will be anywhere from four to six years.

Groundhogs in most areas are considered pests. They dig in fields where their burrows are a hazard for livestock. It's easy for a cow or horse to step in the hole and break a leg. They also eat farmer's crops such as corn and cabbage.