- Are groundhog hides ever worn by humans?
- How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?
- What do groundhogs eat?
- What goes on in a groundhog burrow?
- What's the difference between a groundhog and a woodchuck?
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Q: Are groundhog hides ever worn by humans? |  |
A: Luckily for Grady, groundhog fur is not
currently in vogue, partly because it
is not particularly thick and warm for
humans. Their hairs can be used for
tying trout flies and early American
Indians once used their sturdy hides
for soles of moccasins.
[ Return to Questions ]
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Q: How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood? | |
A: Ah, this is by far the question we’re
asked the most! And the answer is
about 700 pounds. Compared to beavers,
groundhogs/woodchucks are not adept at
moving timber, although some will chew
wood. A wildlife biologist once
measured the inside volume of a
typical woodchuck burrow and estimated
that -- if wood filled the hole
instead of dirt -- the industrious
animal would have chucked about 700
pounds' worth. Toothpick anyone?
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Q: What do groundhogs eat? | |
A: Well, one reason groundhogs love
living in this area is because of all
the succulent green plants, such as
dandelion greens, clover, plantain and
grasses. Admittedly they are sometimes
tempted by nearby garden vegetables.
They also have a tendency to binge and
purposely put on weight in the summer,
reaching their maximum mass in late
August. Then they become more and
more lazy as they prepare for
hibernation in October. By February,
Grady and his other hibernating
buddies have lost as much as half of
their body weight - perfect timing for
their closeup photos on Groundhog
Day!
[ Return to Questions ]
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Q: What goes on in a groundhog burrow? | |
A: Well, not much in the winter. You
might say they take a long nap.
Groundhogs go into deep hibernation,
greatly reducing their metabolic rate
and body temperature. They hibernate
in the deepest portion of the burrow
where it is below frost line. That
means their body temperature can drop
as low as 39-40 degrees Farenheit.
Like humans, their internal clock is
affected by annual changes in the
amount of daylight. Hormonal responses
to cyclic changes in production of
melatonin, a sleep-related hormone,
signal them to wake up!
[ Return to Questions ]
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Q: What's the difference between a groundhog and a woodchuck? | |
A: When you see a woodchuck and a
groundhog, you’re really seeing the
same animal. The scientific name is
Marmota monax. Most closely related to
squirrels, woodchucks like Grady can
actually climb trees and also swim.
That’s another reason they love living
at the Park – lots of places to swim and
climb.
[ Return to Questions ]
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