Woodchuck
Last Review/Updated: May 31, 2002
Marmota monax
The woodchuck is a member of a group of large, ground-dwelling squirrels, called marmots. Marmots have robust bodies with broad heads, short powerful legs, strong flattened and curved claws, and tails that are about 1/4 the length of the body. The dense, woolly fur of the woodchuck is a grizzled dark brown on the upper parts, and reddish-brown on the underparts. The bushy tail is dark brown to black. Adult woodchucks weigh about 3 kg (6.6 lb.).
Although usually a solitary animal, a pair of woodchucks may share the same underground den in summer. Mating occurs soon after emergence from hibernation in March and April. Litters of 4 to 5 young are born in May. Young emerge from their burrows in late June and are weaned shortly afterwards. Woodchucks usually enter hibernation in late September.
Woodchucks eat a variety of green vegetation. They also eat insects, and when found, the young of ground-nesting birds. Woodchucks occur in the mixedwood, parkland and foothill life zones (exclusive of the Rocky Mountains) where woodlots are broken by pastures and meadows. By clearing tracts of forest, farmers and foresters have provided the woodchuck with good habitat, and its numbers have increased and expanded into new range.
Groundhog Day
Another common name for woodchuck is "groundhog." People have honored groundhogs with a special date on the calendar, February 2 — Groundhog Day. Legend has it that if a groundhog should awake from its winter hibernation-sleep on that day and emerge to see its shadow, there will be six more weeks of harsh winter. In Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, there's a special celebration on that day to honor the resident groundhog of Gobbler's Knob, "Punxsutawney Phil." For more information on the history and celebration of Groundhog Day, check out Punxsutawney Phil's website.
