Groundhog Description

Description Baby groundhog with its mother The groundhog is the largest sciurid in its geographical range, excluding its presence in British Columbia where its range may be comparable to that of its somewhat larger cousin, the hoary marmot. Everything you should know about the Groundhog. The Groundhog is a large rodent, most famously known for its role in Groundhog's Day.

Groundhog, one of 14 species of marmots known for sometimes being destructive to gardens and pasturelands. According to popular legend in the United States, it emerges from hibernation each year on February 2, which is designated as Groundhog Day, and if it sees its shadow, winter will last six more weeks. Groundhogs (a.k.a.

woodchucks or whistlepigs) are stout cat-sized rodents belonging to the group of large ground squirrels in the family Sciuridae. They have the nickname "whistlepig" because when alarmed, they use a high. Groundhogs are the bane of many a gardener as the animals can decimate a plot while voraciously feeding during the summer and fall seasons.

Groundhog or woodchuck is the common name for a North American burrowing marmot, Marmota monax, of the rodent family Sciuridae, characterized by large size, a heavy-set body, short-legs, grizzled brownish fur, and an asocial nature uncharacteristic of marmots. Other common names regionally include whistlepig and forest marmot. Basic facts about Groundhog: lifespan, distribution and habitat map, lifestyle and social behavior, mating habits, diet and nutrition, population size and status.

Learn 26 interesting facts about groundhogs, including their diet, behavior, burrows, hibernation habits, and more. Groundhogs or woodchucks (Marmota monax) are a rodent that is in the same family as squirrels. They are the largest member of the squirrel family and common throughout Indiana.

General Characteristics Physical Characteristics Groundhogs weigh around 7-14 lbs and are around 25 inches in length, including the tail. Their fur is a yellowish. Description Groundhogs are large, heavy-bodied rodents attaining weights of 5 to 12 pounds and can be up to 2 feet long.

They are covered with coarse hair ranging in color from brown to reddish yellow, usually tipped with silver. Their feet have five claw-bear-ing digits with thick, slightly curved claws. The head is short and broad.

The legs are short and thickset. The tail is densely haired.