An adult groundhog will eat more than a pound of vegetation daily. After all, the word monax in the groundhogâs scientific name means âsolitary.â, Groundhogs often burrow under open areas such as meadows and farmlands, which can make the critter a real nuisance to farmers. Groundhog mothers introduce their young to the wild once their fur is grown in and they can see. The nest chamber may be about twenty inches to three feet below ground surface. Many people argue that answer. Groundhogs live in the Eastern part of North America. One is the main entrance, the other a spy hole. Diet. From head to rump, groundhogs are 17.75 to 24 inches (45 to 61 centimeters) long, according to National Geographic. Do you want to learn all about groundhogs? 2020 National Geographic Partners, LLC. Males emerge from hibernation before females. The breeding season extends from early March to mid- or late April, after hibernation.
An adult female groundhog walking through snow in March.
But they don't hang out for long.
Groundhogs live in the Eastern part of North America. David P. Barash wrote he witnessed only two occasions of upright play-fighting among woodchucks and that the upright posture of play-fighting involves sustained physical contact between individuals and may require a degree of social tolerance virtually unknown in M. monax. The amount of soil taken from this den was eight bushels and it weighed 640 pounds. A burrow is a small tunnel or hole dug by a small animal. Mated groundhogs in March. Female on the left, male on the right. Learn Groundhog facts for kids. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. © 1996-2015 National Geographic Society, © 2015- During hibernation, they experience periods of torpor and arousal. Groundhog hibernation gave rise to the popular U.S. custom of Groundhog Day, held on the second of February every year. Groundhogs prepare for hibernation by putting on weight. Like other squirrels, groundhogs have long tails that grow around 7 to 9.75 in (18 to 25 cm) long. Excluding the side galleries, Schoonmaker reports the longest was twenty-four feet, with the average length of eleven dens dug out to be fourteen feet.
Groundhogs, or woodchucks, are large rodents known for their burrowing habits and destructive behavior. Farmers do not like groundhogs because they eat their crops. Numbers of burrows per individual groundhog decreases with urbanization. Groundhogs are one of the few species that enter into true hibernation, and often build a separate "winter burrow" for this purpose. Fall/Autumn Facts for Kids 2020, Fun Halloween Facts for Kids! Burrows are particularly large, with up to 14 metres (46 ft) of tunnels buried up to 1.5 metres (5 ft) underground, and can pose a serious threat to agricultural and residential development by damaging farm machinery and even undermining building foundations. The longest burrow was 24 feet plus 2 short side galleries.
KidsPlayAndCreate.com is an Amazon Affiliate and may earn a small commission for products that are purchased through Amazon via our affiliate links. In early spring, dandelion and coltsfoot are important groundhog food items. Sam feeds a hungry baby groundhog named Priscilla but also gets a hilarious surprise on âSamâs Zookeeper Challenge.â, https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/groundhog.html. Groundhogs are also known as woodchucks or whistle-pigs. Groundhogs hibernate longer in northern latitudes than southern latitudes.
Schoonmaker excavated 11 dens finding the earth removed from these averaged six cubic feet or four and eight-tenths bushels per den. Burrows also provide protection from predators such as coyotes, hawks, and black bears. When groundhogs are frightened, the hairs of the tail stand straight up, giving the tail the appearance of a hair brush. It is common to see one or more nearly-motionless individuals standing erect on their hind feet watching for danger. They are between 16 inches and 26 inches long with a 6-inch tail. Groundhog holes, called burrows, are easy to recognize; they are holes, about 9.in (inches) (23 cm (centimeters)) wide which usually have large piles of dirt and rocks at the entrance. The little ones are raised by the mother alone, for around 5 – 6 weeks. Other sounds groundhogs may make are low barks and a sound produced by grinding their teeth. This website is a resource for those who want to have fun, build self esteem and teach their kids how to lead happier, healthier and more fulfilling lives. When alarmed, they use a high-pitched whistle to warn the rest of the colony, hence the name "whistle-pig". Juvenile groundhog siblings on a morning in early June. How often is the groundhog right with predicting Spring? Schoonmaker reports that groundhogs may hide when they see, smell or hear the observer. The gestation period is of about 28 to 32 days and the male groundhog leaves before the young are born. What do groundhogs eat? Groundhogs hibernate, meaning they spend their winter’s sleep. They weigh around 13 lbs.
How did they get their own holiday? They are rodents and are the largest animal in the squirrel family.
At this time, if at all, the father groundhog comes back to the family. All rights reserved. Groundhogs are burrowers. Halloween 2020, The Absolute Best Zoom Activities and Games for Kids. Usually groundhogs breed in their second year, but a small proportion may breed in their first. Groundhogs are excellent burrowers, using burrows for sleeping, rearing young, and hibernating. Let's see what other interesting facts Mr. Orlando can tell us about groundhogs.
As birth of the young approaches in April or May, the male leaves the den. A groundhog has climbed up to reach water in a bird bath. Those squirrels are also known as marmots.
They're where the rodents sleep, raise their babies, and even poop. Bachman mentioned that when the young groundhogs are a few months old, they prepare for separation, digging a number of holes in the area of their early home. Babies are born hairless, helpless, and blind. Groundhogs are also known as woodchucks or whistle-pigs. This page was last modified on 21 October 2020, at 21:17. By around two months old, theyâre off on their ownâwhether they see their shadows or not.
A mated pair remains in the same den throughout the 31- to 32-day gestation period. Though groundhogs are the most solitary of the marmots, several individuals may occupy the same burrow. They hibernate from October to late March. They open their eyes for the first time when they are around 4 weeks old. One litter is produced annually, usually containing two to six blind, hairless and helpless young. Groundhogs are diurnal, meaning they are active during the day. They prefer to retreat to their burrows when threatened; if the burrow is invaded, the groundhog tenaciously defends itself with its two large incisors and front claws. They can live up to 6 years old. Some of these holes were only a few feet deep and never occupied but the numerous burrows gave the impression that groundhogs live in communities. Groundhogs can make their homes under trees, around buildings and in open fields. Groundhogs can climb trees to escape predators, Motionless individual, alert to danger, will whistle when alarmed to warn other groundhogs, A groundhog mother and her cubs (kits) in a suburban yard. Mostly herbivorous, groundhogs eat primarily wild grasses and other vegetation, including berries and agricultural crops, when available. Then they live off the stored fat until they come out of hibernation. Juvenile groundhog siblings play-fighting.
These round creatures look like little bears when they stand up on their hind legs. Some say he is between 75%-90% correct others say 35%.
Outside their burrow, individuals are alert when not actively feeding. February 2nd is Groundhog Day in the United States, and Jessi and Squeaks are celebrating by sharing all kinds of amazing groundhog facts with us! Which Baby Alive Do I Get? Groundhogs can swim and are excellent tree climbers. Learn what groundhogs eat, where they live, and how they make it through tough winters!
Groundhogs eat grasses, berries, vegetables, grasshoppers, insects, and snails. In most areas, groundhogs hibernate from October to March or April, but in more temperate areas, they may hibernate as little as three months. Groundhog burrows have between 2-5 entrances and can be 5 ft below the ground. Predators are fox, raccoons, coyotes, and farm dogs.
Ken Armitage, marmot researcher, states that the social biology of the groundhog is well understudied. Groundhogs are burrowers. And it's not just the groundhog that uses its burrowâanimals such as rabbits, chipmunks, and snakes move in once a groundhog has moved out. Groundhogs live near fence lines, vegetable farms, cornfields, or fruit orchards. Groundhogs may squeal when fighting, seriously injured, or caught by a predator. Groundhogs live near fence lines, vegetable farms, cornfields, or fruit orchards.
Hey Kids! They encourage their young to copy their behaviors and during this time may differ from usual routines. They emerge from hibernation with some remaining body fat to live on until the warmer spring weather produces abundant plant materials for food. Thought not to drink water, groundhogs are reported to obtain needed liquids from the juices of food-plants, aided by their sprinkling with rain or dew. Groundhogs have a curved spine. Phil might be a celebrity once a year, but the rest of the time he probably prefers his me-time.
Phil the groundhog is a star! Welcome to KidsPlayAndCreate.com, a website that’s dedicated to helping kids live their best lives ever through fun games, crafts, facts, cooking activities, self esteem advice and more!
Every single hole, may have tunnels which lead to as many as ten other holes, the tunnels are very large and can have chambers, like rooms, in them. Some additional foods include: sheep sorrel, timothy, buttercup, tear thumb, agrimony, red and black raspberries, buckwheat, plantain, wild lettuce, all varieties of clover, and alfalfa. Find out the answers to these questions and more with these fun groundhog facts for kids!
Instead of storing food, groundhogs stuff themselves to survive the winter without eating. In a June 7, 2009 Humane Society of the United States article, "How to Humanely Chuck a Woodchuck Out of Your Yard", John Griffin, director of Humane Wildlife Services, stated you would have to have a lot of woodchucks working over a lot of years to create tunnel systems that would pose any risk to a structure. A burrow is a small tunnel or hole dug by a small animal.
By the end of August, the family breaks up; or at least, the larger number scatter, to burrow on their own.
To survive the winter, they are at their maximum weight shortly before entering hibernation.
Groundhogs weigh between 9-15 pounds. They are between 16 inches and 26 inches long with a 6-inch tail. Description of the length of the burrow often includes the side galleries of the burrow. Groundhogs dig tunnels and live underground. Groundhogs also h… But burrows are super-important to groundhogs. The Groundhog is a rodent. In the spring, females give birth in their dens to about three to five pups. (6 kilograms), which is about twice the average weight of a newborn human baby.
Where do groundhogs live?
They are rodents and are the largest animal in the squirrel family.
Phil the groundhog is a star! There are typically two burrow openings or holes. The largest Groundhog Day Celebration is held in Punxsutawney Pennsylvania. When the groundhog enters hibernation, there is a drop in body temperature to as low as 35 degrees fahrenheit, heart rate falls to 4-10 beats per minute and breathing rate falls to one breath every six minutes. The famous groundhog who predicts the weather in Punxsutawney Pennsylvania is Punxsutawney Phil.
In the United States, there is a holiday called Groundhog Day. This burrow is usually in a wooded or brushy area and is dug below the frost line and remains at a stable temperature well above freezing during the winter months.
groundhog Facts One of the coolest groundhog facts is that a groundhogs teeth can grow 1/16th of an inch in just one week!