The western United States is the home of its closest relatives, the yellow-bellied marmot and the hoary marmot. Why are Woodchucks called woodchucks? [50]:124 Jackson (1961) suggested that exaggerated reports of damage done by the woodchuck led to excessive culling, substantially reducing its numbers in the state. Required fields are marked *, Find out what your groundhog name would be with our. Thanks for reading Scientific American. Why Groundhog It's thought to be a corruption of the Native American words wejack, woodshaw, or woodchoock. Or chucking. It has been a misconception among the masses that groundhogs chuck wood, and that is why Groundhogs are skilled climbers and swimmers, which helps them to escape less-skilled predators. [41][42], Young groundhogs (usually those less than a couple months in age) may also be taken by an American mink, perhaps other smallish mustelids, cats, timber rattlesnakes, and hawks. Because theyre the same animal. Soil Aeration When digging, groundhogs help aerate soil. Groundhog ", "Social organization of woodchucks (Marmota monax)", "The effects of red fox scent on winter activity patterns of suburban wildlife: evaluating predator-prey interactions and the importance of groundhog burrows in promoting biodiversity", "Functional specialization in the forelimbs of two digging mammals: the American badger (Taxidea taxus) and groundhog (Marmota monax)", "Mating system and paternity in woodchucks (Marmota monax)", "Genetic Relatedness and Space Use in a Behaviorally Flexible Species of Marmot, the Woodchuck (Marmota monax)", "A test of the acoustic adaptation hypothesis in four species of marmots", "The somatic chromosomes of the Northeastern American woodchuck, Marmota monax", "Lyrics and Words for Children's Nursery Rhymes and Songs", "Habitat, food habits, and productivity of northern goshawks nesting in Connecticut", "Eavesdropping of woodchucks (Marmota monax) and eastern chipmunks (Tamias striatus) on heterospecific alarm calls", "Domestic cats as predators and factors in winter shortages of raptor prey", "Effects of urbanization on survival rates, anti-predator behavior, and movements of woodchucks (Marmota monax)", "Wisconsin's endangered and threatened species laws", Hinterland Who's Who ("Canadian Wildlife Service: Mammals: Woodchuck"), "Professor sheds light on groundhog's shadowy behavior", "Celebrate Groundhog Day With Groundhog Recipes", "Grooming a Weatherman for his TV Debut, and Hoping He Doesn't Bite The Host", "Sean Kirst: For Dunkirk Dave's caretaker, every day is Groundhog Day", "Groundhog Day is steeped in tradition but isn't the most accurate, according to weather almanacs", "At Cornell, groundhog is harbinger of health", "Two Woodchucks, or Frost and Thoreau on the Art of the Burrow", NIH Guide: BREEDING AND EXPERIMENTAL FACILITY FOR WOODCHUCKS (MARMOTA MONAX), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Groundhog&oldid=1166483763, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with failed verification from January 2023, Taxonbars with automatically added original combinations, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 4.0, This page was last edited on 21 July 2023, at 21:36. The males also usually emerge from hibernation 1-3 weeks earlier than the females. (Image: James LeVos 7) Groundhog claws expand at least 2 mm per week when actively feeding. Why He was born in Madison, Wisconsin and currently resides in Anaheim, California, A Look at Natures Fluffy and Cute Squirrels, The Black Giant Squirrel of the East Asian Forests, Exploring the Adaptations of the Mighty Water Rat. [48][74], Bachman mentioned that when the young groundhogs are a few months old, they prepare for separation, digging a number of holes in the area of their early home. The groundhog, also known as a woodchuck, is a fairly large rodent and can reach from 12 inches to 27 inches long and weigh 5-14 pounds in adulthood. ASK THE EDITOR Why is there an apostrophe in the word "o'clock"? In addition to the nest, there is an excrement chamber. Yes, groundhogs typically have two holes, one for summer and one for winter. We believe that family edutainment should be engaging, inspiring and always on trend so that every member of the family can benefit from it! Woodchucks Groundhog [70] Though groundhogs are the most solitary of the marmots, several individuals may occupy the same burrow. It is derived from the Algonquian name for the critters, wuchak. The average weight of the kid groundhogs is the same. They're actually anything but. They hibernate from October through March. Woodchuck Extensive burrowing can undermine foundations. In areas where there is an abundance of vegetation, woodchucks will primarily eat plants. The longest burrow measured 24 feet (7.3m) plus two short side galleries. Young groundhogs are called kits, pups, or sometimes chucklings. Species of mammal (rodent in the marmot genus), "Whistle Pig" redirects here. Is scruffing the best way to handle an upset cat? For females, there is very little overlap between home ranges except for the late spring and early summer, as females try to expand their territories. For the whiskey distillery, see. Woodchucks Groundhogs are most active during the early morning and early evening hours. Al Boright says hed be pleased to be called a woodchuck. WebGroundhogs and woodchucks are two names that are often used interchangeably, leading to the obvious question of whether they are the same animal or not. [83][84] Groundhogs are mostly diurnal, and are often active early in the morning or late afternoon. The winter hole is uually located in a wooded area and has only one entrance. 10 Famous Groundhogs Besides Punxsutawney Phil Make sure you clean your garden. Do Woodchucks Chuck Wood? - Kids Environment Kids Health Groundhogs But interactions between female groups - even when those groups are shared by the same adult male - are rare and aggressive. Depending on where you are in the country, woodchucks are also known as groundhogs, land beavers, and whistling pigs. The breeding season extends from early March to mid- or late April, after hibernation. In fact, groundhogs, also known as woodchucks, may provide key clues into better understanding cancer and cancer treatment, blood cell functions, brain activity and mental health. Groundhogs 7 Things You Didn't Know About Groundhogs The name woodchuck has nothing to do with wood. Even though daddy woodchuck doesn't live at home, from the breeding season through the first month of the infants' lives, he visits each of his female groups every day. If you have a groundhog problem, be sure to build your fence high enough (at least six feet) and use chicken wire to prevent the groundhogs from climbing over or tunneling under. "[96], Groundhogs may be raised in captivity, but their aggressive nature can pose problems. Groundhog Both Groundhogs and Woodchucks Woodchucks dont typically eat wood. Woodchucks are about the size of a large house cat, weighing somewhere between 13 and 15 pounds. Woodchuck burrows will have a large opening about 10 to 12 inches across, with a raised mound of dirt just outside. What is a baby groundhog called? No, a woodchuck is not a gopher. WebGroundhogs also have a charming habit of whistling when alarmed hence the whistle-pig moniker and they really, really like to eat. All rights reserved. The newborn baby groundhog is pink, entirely hairless and usually about the size of a matchbox. When they emerge from hibernation, it means winter is almost over. [98][99][100], In the United States and Canada, the yearly February 2 Groundhog Day celebration has given the groundhog recognition and popularity. Woodchucks dont actually chuck wood. Litters of one to nine have been recorded. In fact, they often use fences to help them climb up to their burrows or to reach food sources. They deliver four babies on average. One way is to trap the woodchuck and release it in a wooded area far away from your home. We cannot compare a woodchuck vs. groundhog as they are two names for the same animal. They can also cause serious structural damage through burrowing. No, groundhogs are not known to eat adult mice or rats, but they may eat younger mice or weaker ones that canot run away if the groundhog is given the chance. When the soap is placed in the holes of the groundhog's burrows, the scent of the soap will deter the groundhog from coming out from its burrow. Woodchucks are also called groundhogs, gophers or "whistle-pigs." Before that, the critter was usually just called the "Br'er Groundhog" or "The Punxsutawney Groundhog." But the list also includes whistling pig, land squirrel, land beaver, marmot and even 'underground architect. Woodchucks are not considered to be good for your yard as they can cause extensive damage. They are found in North America and live in underground dens. [76] Groundhogs hibernate longer in northern latitudes than southern latitudes. Groundhog Surprisingly, the name woodchuck doesn't have anything to do with wood. 4. See Wikipedia. Follow Jason G. Goldman on Twitter. But even then, when her coworkers came to help her, the groundhog forced them to retreat back inside. [58][59] Groundhogs may squeal when fighting, seriously injured, or caught by a predator. Groundhog mating season is in the early spring and, after only a month-long pregnancy, mother groundhogs typically give birth to a litter of two to six blind, hairless babies. Their front feet have long, curved claws used for digging burrows. What are the names of the three groundhogs? 2008-03-17 11:05:22. Continue reading with a Scientific American subscription. Yet, in British The knockout bomb from the Feed and Grain Exchange. Why Groundhogs [46]:142143[47][failed verification][48][failed verification]. "Woodchucks Are in the Lab, but Their Body Clocks Are Wild". Groundhogs play an important role in our ecological system. Groundhogs To do this, set up a trap close to the burrow entrance and bait it with a piece of fruit. Groundhogs are also known as woodchucks, land beavers, and whistlepigs. How to Get Rid of Groundhogs: Woodchuck Facts, Photos, Info Worst comes to worst, you definitely don't want to try and handle them on your own since some groundhogs can be pretty aggressive animals. DNR, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Groundhog. Groundhogs Do Woodchucks Chuck Wood? There are two main reasons groundhogs might climb trees: foraging for food and escaping predators. Mothballs contain naphthalene, which is a chemical that gives off a strong smell. Yes, groundhogs are good for aerating soil. But contrary to popular belief that groundhogs are It cleans its face after the manner of the squirrels, and licks its fur after the manner of a cat. [15][16] Groundhogs are an extremely intelligent animal 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. This is the part of their behavior that has led to North American Groundhog Day tradition. Groundhog - Wikipedia How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood? It's a story that could have been set in any place or time. Groundhogs [103] Researching the hibernation patterns of groundhogs may lead to benefits for humans, including lowering of the heart rate in complicated surgical procedures. Why is groundhog called woodchuck? In fact, if infected with Woodchuck Hepatitis B virus, the animal will always go on to develop liver cancer, making them useful for the study both of liver cancer and of hepatitis B. A woodchuck's favorite food is typically whatever is most readily available. Groundhogs (Marmota monax), also known as woodchucks, are a species of large ground squirrels called marmots. However, they only occasionally climb trees. Set Up Motion-Detecting Water Sprinklers. So maybe don't keep them near your face. Groundhogs do not form stable, long-term pair-bonds, and during mating season male-female interactions are limited to copulation. Mus monax Linnaeus,1758 Famous Southern groundhogs include General Beauregard Lee, based at Dauset Trails Nature Center outside Atlanta, Georgia.
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