Description and general information
The groundhog, also known as a woodchuck, or whistlepig, is a rodent of the family Sciuridae. It is the largest member of this family, which also includes squirrels. Both sexes are similar in appearance, but the male is slightly larger, weighing an average of 5 to 10 pounds, while the female weighs an average of 4 to 9 pounds. The total length of the head and body averages 16 to 20 inches. The tail is usually 4 to 7 inches long. Woodchucks have white or yellowish-white, chisel like incisor teeth. Their eyes, ears and nose are located toward the top of the head, which allows them to remain concealed in their burrow while they check for danger over the edge. Although they are slow runners, woodchucks are alert and scurry quickly to their burrows when they sense danger.
Groundhogs are well adapted for digging, having short, powerful limbs with curved, thick claws. Suited to their temperate habitat, groundhogs possess two coats of fur: a dense gray undercoat and a longer coat of banded guard hairs that give the groundhog its distinctive appearance.
When a woodchuck is alarmed, it will give off a sharp whistle before running to its burrow. In the wild, woodchucks can live up to six years, with two or three being the average
Habitat
The woodchuck is widely distributed in North America and are common in the eastern and central US, being found as far north as Alaska and as far south as Georgia.
Woodchucks prefer open farmland and the wooded areas surrounding open land. Their burrows are commonly located in fields and pastures or along fences, roadsides, or building foundations. Woodchuck burrows are identified by the large mound of excavated dirt at the main entrance.
Behaviors
Woodchucks dig large burrows, often moving up to 35 cubic feet of soil in the process. Burrows can be up to 5 feet deep and up to 30 feet long. The burrow is used for safety, protection from bad weather, hibernating, sleeping, and raising offspring. Most burrows consist of 2 or more chambers, including a sleeping chamber lined with grasses, and an excrement chamber. The sleeping, or nest chamber, is usually about 16 inches wide and 14 inches high. There will always be at least 2 openings to a burrow: the main entrance and the other a spy hole.
Old woodchuck burrows are sometimes used as shelter by other animals including red foxes, opossums, cottontail rabbits, skunks and snakes.