Groundhog Facts

 

“Since cleanliness is next to godliness, God has some competition” – Audrey Tourney

Characteristics:

• Also called Woodchuck or a whistle pig.
• Groundhogs are true hibernators and remain curled tightly in a largely uninterrupted, deep sleep for 6-7 months. Their body temperature drops to as low as 3°C (37°F), bringing their metabolism almost to a standstill, so they use just a trickle of there stored fat.
• When active, its heart beats about 80 times per minute. During hibernation only 4- 5 times per minute. The average time between breaths during hibernation is 6 minutes.
• Males awake with romance rather than breakfast in their minds. They immediately look for a mate, fighting off similarly minded rivals who get in their way.
• Mostly known for their roll in the North American festivals of Groundhog Day.

Diet:

• Groundhogs feed mainly on grass, leaves, flowers, clover, seeds, berries, bark, insects and snails.

Habitat:

• Green pastures, meadows and open woodlands. They usually burrow in fields but are commonly found burrowing under rock piles, under buildings or along riversides.
• The groundhog ranges from central Alaska to Labrador and south to Idaho.

Reproduction:

• Mating occurs in the spring quickly after emerging from hibernation. Gestation is 4 weeks producing a litter of 1–8 newborns. Their eyes open at 1 month and are fully weaned at 11 months.