Fun-facts about Groundhogs
Groundhogs are one of the most adorable animals. This kind is native to North America, East Asia, and Europe. They are also called woodchucks in North America, while in Europe they are known as hedgehogs.
The groundhog has a stout body with short legs, but it can be able to move very fast when needed. The tail of this species is shorter than half of the body length that makes it look like a stub tail.
Groundhogs Seasonal Predictions
The myth of Groundhog Day is that a groundhog sees its shadow on February 2. Phil’s handlers maintain 100 percent accuracy in his seasonal predictions. According to a Canadian groundhog study, Phil has seen a 39 percent forecasting success rate since 1887.
Lazy Crazy Groundhogs
What do sleazy construction workers and groundhogs have in common? Both of them whistle at possible partners. Groundhogs are known as “whistle-pigs” and lecherous day laborers are simply known as “pigs” because of this strange adaption.
Bodily Changes in Groundhogs
Groundhogs are among the few animals that are as dedicated to hibernation as they are. They are called “real hibernators” because they hibernate from late fall to late winter or early spring, a period that can last up to six months depending on the temperature. Their body temperatures might drop to 20 degrees Celsius during this time, and their heart rates can decrease from 80 to five beats per minute.
Romantic Groundhogs
Male groundhogs are known to wake up early after about three months to begin looking for suitable mates, despite their rigorous hibernation tendencies. “In most cases, a male has a territory that includes a number of female burrows. And there’s a lot of competition for that land. They strive to defend that region by going from burrow to burrow to see if the female is still present.” Groundhogs begin visiting females in February and then go back to sleep until March when mating season begins.
Groundhogs just eat like everything
Groundhogs are burrowing animals, which means they spend a lot of time in the dirt. In fact, most groundhogs live in underground tunnels that they dig with their front feet and claws. They use their sharp teeth to gnaw through roots and grubs found below the surface of the earth. Groundhogs will eat just about anything!