Quick Information About groundhogs
Groundhog is a member of the squirrel family. in some areas, they are also called woodchucks or whistle pigs in North America, groundhogs hibernate for 5 to 6 months during the winter.
the groundhog is most active at dawn and dusk. it is active year-round in temperate regions but hibernates when temperatures fall below freezing.
Size of Groundhogs
According to National Geographic, groundhogs are 17.75 to 24 inches (45 to 61 cm) in length from head to rump. They are nearly double the weight of a newborn human baby, weighing around 13 lbs. (6 kg). Groundhogs, like other squirrels, have long tails that can reach 7 to 9.75 inches (18 to 25 cm) in length. When these circular critters stand up on their hind legs, they resemble small bears. Groundhogs have keen claws, which they utilize to dig deep holes in the ground.
Habitat of Groundhogs
Groundhogs can only be found in North America, from Canada to the southern US. They prefer wooded places that are close to open spaces. They dig holes as deep as 6 feet (1.8 meters) and as wide as 20 feet (6 meters). According to the National Wildlife Federation, these underground dwellings might have anywhere from two to a dozen openings. For the most part, they have a winter tunnel in the woods and a summer dig in grassy regions. Groundhogs keep their tunnels clean by periodically swapping out the nesting material found inside.
Habits of Groundhogs
Groundhogs are creatures who spend their summers and autumns gorged on food and napping in the sun. They can consume around a pound of food in a single sitting. They hibernate during the winter. According to the National Wildlife Federation, the groundhog’s heartbeat slows from 80 to 5 beats per minute, their respiration drops from 16 to 2 breaths per minute.
A groundhog like to stay near to home. During the day, they rarely venture further than 50 to 150 feet (15 to 30 meters) from their den, according to the Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management.
Babies of Groundhogs
Males will emerge from hibernation in February and look for females’ burrows. When he locates one, he enters. Males are thought to do this to introduce themselves to potential partners. Mating season begins in the spring, and females give birth to two to six young following a 32-day gestation period. The babies are blind and hairless when they are born, but they progress swiftly after three months. They often leave their mother to dig their own homes when they reach adulthood. Groundhogs have a three- to six-year lifespan.