Groundhogs Need Love Too

 

Groundhogs Need Love Too

Written by Kristine Manganelli-Rappaport (Somerset County 4-H Program Coordinator)

Groundhog venturing out into early Spring

Groundhog venturing out into early Spring

Groundhog Day is here! Since groundhogs only get love one day a year, I thought I would devote an entire blog post to these furry loners.

If Punxsutawney Phil wakes up on February 2, crawls out of his burrow and sees his shadow, folklore dictates that there will be six more weeks of winter. If Phil doesn’t see his shadow, this signifies an early spring. This may be quite desirable for those of us with snow on the ground.

There has been a Groundhog Day celebration every year in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania since 1887, but the seasonal traditions of this holiday go back much further. Groundhog Day is also an astronomical holiday, known as a cross-quarter day, falling midway between the Winter Solstice in December and the Spring Equinox in March. So, here’s the good news: whether Phil sees his shadow or not, we are officially halfway to Spring!

Groundhogs are abundant here in New Jersey, and can be found throughout most of North America. They are also known as woodchucks and whistle pigs because of a whistle-like call. The name woodchuck is thought to stem from the indigenous word “wuchak.”

They are 1 of 14 species of marmot, and are closely related to the squirrel family. These critters may not seem like squirrels, and that is probably because of their large size and slow movements. They can be up to 2 feet in length (including tail), and weigh up to 13 pounds.

They spend the summer season gorging themselves with up to 1 pound of food per sitting in order to build up fat reserves that will keep them alive for the winter. Their diet consists of foraged green plants, grasses, and berries. They live in areas where woodlands meet open spaces like fields and meadows. Groundhogs spend most of their time alone, which is why they earned the scientific name marmota monax; monax meaning solitary.

After the first frost, groundhogs will retreat to their underground burrows that they have dug with their thick, sharp claws. These burrows have extensive tunnels that can be anywhere from 10 to 60 feet long with multiple entrances and rooms including a designated bathroom area! Here they will remain until spring, surviving the long, cold months off their body fat. Groundhogs are “true” hibernators as they go into a dormant state during this period of inactivity. Their heart rate and body temperature drop significantly during this time.

Groundhog on hind-legs in Summer

Groundhog on hind-legs in Summer

Groundhogs will not be spotted for several months, until around early February (this timing fits the date of the Groundhog Day holiday). The male groundhogs emerge ahead of spring, waking up early to check on their mates. Male groundhogs may have a small territory that includes multiple female burrows. They visit these burrows to see if the females are still around and to defend their territory from potential competition from other male groundhogs.

However, they return to their own burrow until early March when mating season begins. At this point they will bunk with their mates and a few weeks later, when food is again abundant, female groundhogs give birth to a litter of around 3-6 baby “chucks.” They will rely on their mother for approximately 2 months before going off on their own.

Unfortunately, groundhogs do not have the best reputation. In fact, when researching this topic, most of the search results yielded responses on how to “deal with” problem groundhogs. This is because they are a major nuisance to gardeners, notorious for eating through entire plots of vegetables. Their burrows can also be dangerous, especially for farm vehicles or farm animals that can become injured after accidentally stepping into one.

But these burrows are actually very important to the natural world. Not only do burrows provide a home for groundhogs, they also offer them protection from predators such as fox, coyotes, and black bears. As they can only run up to 8 miles per hour, the only other defense they have are sharp claws and teeth. Often, other animals will use groundhog burrows for homes. Anything from fox to rabbits, or even snakes or turtles may move into an open burrow.

Get Outside


Join the Watershed Institute in Pennington, NJ on Saturday, February 5 to celebrate the groundhog! Groundhog day is a curious mix of fact and fiction. Learn the difference as you make your way around the Watershed Reserve in search of clues to find Wally the Woodchuck. This program is part treasure hunt, part nature hike and plenty of imaginative fun. Meet the naturalists, try your hand at chucking wood with a catapult or trebuchet, and search for groundhog holes on this festive winter morning. Each group will remain together, practicing social distancing. Dress for the weather and wear your hiking boots as we celebrate winter and look forward to the return of spring.

To register visit: http://www.thewatershed.org/events

Sources:

 
Somerset County 4-H