Groundhog Habits

Groundhogs are the biggest animals in the family of squirrels. They are also known as woodchucks or marmots. As creatures that hibernate for the winter, groundhogs stock up on food during the summer. These large rodents gained particular attention after the 1993 movie "Groundhog Day," inspired by the real life groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil. Every February 2, on Groundhog Day, a celebration in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania stars the famous groundhog. The celebration continues the old tradition that says if a groundhog sees its shadow that day there will be six more weeks of winter.

  1. Habits

    • During the summer, groundhogs gorge and fatten themselves up in preparation for their winter retreat. After the first frost, woodchucks seek shelter in deep underground dens that are below the frost level. They fall into a heavy, comatose sleep until spring, meeting their nutritional needs using the excess fat they gained in the summer -- often, they will still have excess fat when they emerge from their sleep. Their body temperature reduces to just above the temperature of their den and their heart rate takes a deep dip. They reappear at the beginning of spring, mate right away and the females have a litter of babies. Groundhog cubs stay with their mother for many months before they become independent.

      Groundhogs enjoy lying out in the sun and feasting heartily. They can swim and climb trees but they prefer being on the ground. Some groundhogs chew on wood; the gnawing on wood helps to keep their constantly growing incisors worn down -- an issue that if neglected can prove to be very harmful, even fatal. They have an average lifespan between six to eight years.

    Habitat

    • Woodchucks have a range that stretches throughout North America, but they are especially prevalent in the eastern United States, northern Canada and Alaska. They like open grasslands that are near wooded areas. Groundhogs have a summer den and a winter den -- summer dens are usually located in the middle of a pasture and winter dens are nearby, but closer to trees. Their burrows will have a nesting chamber, a toilet, a main entrance and at least one spy hole.

    Diet

    • The choice diet of a groundhog is fresh wild plants, vegetation and fruits. When they first leave their dens in the winter and the food supply is still sparse, they will often feed on bark and twigs. When needed, they eat bugs or small birds. If they live closer to urban environments, they will take advantage of food sources such as garden vegetables and other human scraps.

    Description

    • Groundhogs are usually brown and gray with black tails and feet. They have small round ears, flat heads and pointed snouts. They are 17.75 to 24 inches tall from the top of their head to the base of their tail. They weigh an average of 13 lbs.