Woodchucks – also known as groundhogs, whistle-pigs, land beavers, and forest marmots – are fascinating creatures. Although they are closely related to squirrels, they are much more significant. They can weigh up to 13 pounds and reach 27 inches in length. Visit pestwildlife.org to learn how big woodchucks can get.
For homeowners, groundhogs are notorious for their destructive capabilities – from building complex underground structures to destroying garden crops. Groundhogs are also carriers of several zoonotic diseases like tularemia and Lyme disease.
Enough on the dangers of woodchucks into the purpose of this post – to explore some exciting facts about woodchucks. Let’s get right into it!
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They are true hibernators.
Groundhogs can hibernate for up to five months. During this period, they enter a dormant state with reduced metabolism. They reduce their body temperature by up to 60 degrees Fahrenheit and their heart rate decreases to about ten beats per minute. Impressively, they lose only about one-quarter of their weight during this period!
To prepare for hibernation during the winter, woodchucks feast on plants and pests like grubs, insects, and snails all summer long. They can consume up to one pound of food in one sitting. This enables them to build up enough fat reserves that help them survive their winter slumber.
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Their incisors grow throughout their lives.
Like most rodents, the teeth of groundhogs grow throughout their lives. These serve several vital functions. First off, it provides them with the power to chew down objects like wood and plants. After breaking down the soil with their short but powerful front legs, they move the loosened materials with their mouth and teeth.
When aligned properly, the incisors grind on each other. Coupled with the regular use of the incisor for other activities, this helps keep the incisors’ length in check. Sometimes, however, the incisors get misaligned. When this happens, the incisors keep growing indefinitely. And when it grows for too long, it can impale the lower jaws with fatal consequences.
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Their underground structure is impressive.
One common fact about groundhogs is their ability to dig underground burrows. But given these holes are not apparent, it may be difficult to appreciate how complex these underground structures are. They can dig up to 6 feet deep, and their tunnels can meander for up to 50 feet with multiple levels, exits, and rooms. Do you know that they even have bathrooms? A groundhog can dig up to 700 pounds of dirt during this tunnel-building process!
The primary purpose of this underground structure is for safety from predators. Given that groundhogs have a top of about 8 mph, they are no match for a hungry fox that can hit 25 mph. Hence, these tunnels provide a way for them to escape the chase of predators quickly.
If you have groundhog burrows on your property, getting a professional wildlife company like C&C Wildlife Control is usually your best bet. These experts will find the best approach for your unique problem.
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They are good tree climbers and swimmers.
Do not let the chubby-looking size of woodchucks fool you. They are great climbers with impressive agility. When in threat of a predator, a groundhog’s best defense is to get into its burrows. But when this is practically impossible, their sharp claws come in handy as they use them to climb trees. Furthermore, groundhogs are great swimmers and would not hesitate to swim toward safety when under threat.
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Their borrowings led to an important discovery.
Believe it or not, the oldest known location of human habitation in North America was discovered in 1955 – all thanks to groundhog burrows!
In 1995, Albert Miller, the founder of Meadowcroft Rockshelter, noticed some artifacts in a groundhog’s burrow. This prompted him to bring in an expert archaeologist, Dr. Jim Adovasio. And after years of digging and analysis of the excavated material through radiocarbon dating at the Smithsonian Institute, they learned that that was a probable campsite inhabited by humans over 19,000 years ago!
Wrap Up
This post has explored some interesting facts about groundhogs – from their impressive underground tunnels to the role they had in the discovery of early human camps in North America. But if you have these nuisance pests on your property, these fascinations will not get them out. For that, you need a reputable wildlife removal company.
