Mammals
Groundhog
Marmota monax · also called woodchuck, groundhogs
Deep within an elaborate burrow system dug into a grassy hillside, a groundhog spends the coldest months of the year in genuine hibernation, its heart rate slowed dramatically as it waits out winter on fat reserves built up over the preceding months.
Overview
The groundhog, Marmota monax, is a stout-bodied burrowing rodent native to grassland and forest edge habitat across a broad range of eastern and central North America. Its true deep hibernation, elaborate multi-chambered burrow systems, and prominent role in North American winter folklore make it one of the more culturally recognisable mammals found across the continent.
A rodent that takes hibernation seriously
Unlike many animals that merely slow down for winter, the groundhog undergoes a genuine deep hibernation, its body functions dropping so dramatically that it can survive for months underground without eating at all.
Status
Least Concern, widespread and abundant across suitable grassland and forest edge habitat throughout eastern and central North America, despite frequently being viewed as a garden nuisance.
Groundhog: common questions
Why is the groundhog associated with predicting spring?
This species is the basis of a popular North American winter tradition in which its emergence from hibernation and subsequent behaviour are used symbolically to predict how soon spring will arrive, a folk tradition with limited scientific basis but considerable cultural popularity across parts of the United States and Canada.
How deeply does a groundhog hibernate?
This species undergoes genuine deep hibernation through winter, during which its heart rate and body temperature drop dramatically compared to its active summer state, a physiological slowdown that allows it to survive for months without eating by relying on fat reserves built up beforehand.
Can groundhogs climb trees?
Yes, despite its stocky, ground-dwelling build, this species is a surprisingly capable climber, sometimes ascending trees to escape a predator or reach food that would otherwise be out of reach on the ground.
Why does the groundhog sometimes get called a whistle-pig?
This species produces a sharp, whistling alarm call when startled or threatened, a distinctive vocalisation that gave rise to the alternate common name whistle-pig in some regions where the species is found.