Groundhogs: Habitat, Life Cycle, and Facts About Woodchucks
Groundhogs, also known as woodchucks or whistle-pigs, are stout-bodied rodents of the Sciuridae family. They range in length from 17 to 20 inches and weigh between 4 and 14 pounds. Found in eastern and central North America, these animals prefer open fields and woodlands. Groundhogs are primarily solitary, except during breeding season, when females give birth to litters of four to five young. They are excellent diggers, constructing intricate burrows, and spend summer feeding heavily to prepare for hibernation, which begins in mid-October.
Groundhogs: Habitat, Life Cycle, and Facts About Woodchucks
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Presentation Transcript
Groundhogs /Woodchucks By Mrs. Stoyanov
Classification • Groundhogs • Other names- WHISTLE-PIG- Woodchucks • (Marmotamonax), stout-bodied marmot of the family Sciuridae (order Rodentia). • Woodchucks are black-footed, reddish-brown or brown animals, ranging from 17 to 20 inches in length, with 4- to 6-inch tails. • They weigh between 4 and 14 pounds.
Habitat- Woodlands • This rodent is a member of the squirrel family • Found in eastern /central United States, Canada and into Alaska • Woodchucks like open fields, woodlands where they feed on low green vegetation. • They are mainly terrestrial but are good swimmers and climbers.
Family Life • Woodchucks are solitary except during the spring, when litters of four to five young are born. • The young stay with the mother for about two months.
Feeding and Hibernation • They feed heavily in summer, storing fat to see them through their winter hibernation. • Groundhogs begin hibernation mid October and emerge in February. • They are also excellent diggers, constructing a burrow with a main entrance and an escape tunnel.
Let’s Review • What is another name for the Groundhog? • What color are groundhogs? • How much do they weigh? • Explain what type of habitat groundhogs live in. • How many babies do groundhogs have? • Describe what they do in the summer. • Describe what they do in the winter. • How are groundhogs different than we are?
