science education resource

Woodchuck

To view these resources with no ads, please Login or Subscribe to help support our content development.

School subscriptions can access more than 175 downloadable unit bundles in our store for free (a value of $1,500).

District subscriptions provide huge group discounts for their schools. Email for a quote: sheri@exploringnature.org.

Marmota monax
Woodchuck

Range

Woodchucks (also called groundhogs) are found in southern Canada, Alaska, Northwestern and Northeastern United States west up to the prairie and south to Alabama.

Habitat

They live in burrows in fields, hedgerows and on the edge of forests. They have adapted to do well in farmlands and pastures as well.

Body Traits

The largest member of the squirrel family, they vary in weight from 6-12 pounds (males are larger). They can be yellow to brown with frosted hair tips and a rounded body, bushy tail and short, strong legs for digging. The woodchuck’s front teeth grow continuously throughout their lives.

Habits

They live life mostly on the ground and den underground. They build extensive burrows with many rooms and exits. They have separate rooms for food and sleeping and waste. They are active during the day (diurnal) in the summer and hibernate in the winter. They live alone, except when mating or raising young.

Diet

They eat mostly plants (herbivores), but sometimes eating insects, eggs and snails. Woodchucks make a range of noises including a high-pitched whistle, so are sometimes called "whistle-pigs." They are true hibernators, sleeping from October to March or April. They live alone except when mating or females with young.

Predators

Predators include foxes, coyotes, dogs and man.

To view these resources with no ads, please Login or Subscribe to help support our content development.

School subscriptions can access more than 175 downloadable unit bundles in our store for free (a value of $1,500).

District subscriptions provide huge group discounts for their schools. Email for a quote: sheri@exploringnature.org.

Reproduction

Females are pregnant for 30 days (gestation) and have 2-7 young, usually in May.

Lifespan and/or Conservation Status

Woodchucks can live up to 6 years in the wild. They are listed as Lower Risk - least concern.

Woodchuck

Classification

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Suborder: Sciuromorpha
Family: Sciuridae
Subfamily: Xerinae
Genus: Marmota
Species: Marmota monax

Citing Research References

When you research information you must cite the reference. Citing for websites is different from citing from books, magazines and periodicals. The style of citing shown here is from the MLA Style Citations (Modern Language Association).

When citing a WEBSITE the general format is as follows.
Author Last Name, First Name(s). "Title: Subtitle of Part of Web Page, if appropriate." Title: Subtitle: Section of Page if appropriate. Sponsoring/Publishing Agency, If Given. Additional significant descriptive information. Date of Electronic Publication or other Date, such as Last Updated. Day Month Year of access < URL >.

Here is an example of citing this page:

Amsel, Sheri. "Woodchuck" Exploring Nature Educational Resource ©2005-2024. November 25, 2024
< http://exploringnature.org/db/view/377 >

Exploringnature.org has more than 2,000 illustrated animals. Read about them, color them, label them, learn to draw them.