Groundhogs are also referred to as woodchucks or whistle pigs. They are a member of the squirrel family. There are six species of woodchucks and marmots that occur in the United States. These animals commonly invade cropland and vegetable gardens, eating or destroying vegetables and landscape plants.
Should groundhogs and woodchucks have the same scientific name?
So, what is the difference between a woodchuck and groundhog? They’re actually the same type of animal (Genus and species: Marmota monax). The differing common names likely come from different etymologies from around the world. The animal was called wejack, woodshaw and woodchoock by some Native American cultures.
Do woodchucks really chuck wood?
Well, a New York state wildlife expert, Richard Thomas, decided to answer that question some years back. He found that, while a woodchuck doesn’t actually chuck wood, they do in fact chuck quite a bit of dirt when digging out a burrow. On a good day they can chuck around 35 cubic feet of dirt (or about 700 pounds).
Can you eat woodchuck?
“You can use woodchuck meat in virtually any recipe calling for small game and in many other dishes as well,” he says.
Do groundhogs bite?
It is very rare for groundhogs to attack humans. However, when they feel threatened or when they feel that their babies are in danger, they may attack. A few cases of groundhogs attacking humans have been reported but injuries are not that serious.
What are groundhogs good for?
Soil Aeration
‘ When groundhogs dig their burrows, they expose deep, compacted soil to the atmosphere, feeding them oxygen that sustains roots. As long as the tunnels remain, oxygen will keep coming into the soil and helping plants.
Do mothballs deter groundhogs?
Groundhogs hate the smell of mothballs, but the truth is, they are just not strong enough to scare these rodents away.
Does bubble gum really work on groundhogs?
we used bubble gum on them last spring, worked great. We put some down their hole and just spread some around. Took quite a few pieces but it worked.
Why are groundhogs called whistle pigs?
The name whistle-pig, which is most common in Appalachia, stems from groundhogs’ habit of making a high-pitched whistling sound, usually as a warning to other groundhogs when they feel threatened. (The pig is similar to how we refer to woodchucks’ rodent-cousin the guinea pig.)
Is a woodchuck a beaver?
Woodchuck vs Beaver: Species
For example, woodchucks are members of the Sciuridae family while beavers are members of the Castoridae family. This is an important thing to note because woodchucks belong to a much larger family than beavers do, as beavers are the only ones that make up the Castoridae family.
What is groundhog’s favorite food?
Favorite foods include alfalfa, clover, peas, beans, lettuce, broccoli, plantain, and soybeans. Groundhogs will often devour your seedlings before they even have time to grow. Rabbits and deer eat some of the same plants, so make sure to check for burrows before concluding that you have groundhogs.
What does woodchuck taste like?
Groundhogs are similar to rabbits in taste, and most recipes for groundhog have you prepare them in the same manner.
How long does a groundhog live?
Lifespan: In the wild, groundhogs can live up to six years with two or three being average. In captivity, groundhogs reportedly live up to 14 years. Breeding: Groundhogs tend to be solitary except in the spring when a litter of four to six young are born.
Where do groundhogs sleep and poop?
But burrows are super-important to groundhogs. They’re where the rodents sleep, raise their babies, and even poop. (They actually have separate bathrooms!) Burrows also provide protection from predators such as coyotes, hawks, and black bears.
What do groundhogs eat in my yard?
Their favorite foods include young, tender greens like lettuce and cabbage, as well as cantaloupes, green beans, cucumbers, zucchini, and corn. Pick them as soon as they’re ripe instead of leaving them in the garden for a few days.
Are groundhogs smart?
Groundhogs are an extremely intelligent animal forming complex social networks, able to understand social behavior, form kinship with their young, understand and communicate threats through whistling, and work cooperatively to solve tasks such as burrowing.
References:
- https://www.terminix.com/blog/education/woodchuck-vs-groundhog/
- https://gf.nd.gov/wildlife-notes/how-much-wood-can-woodchuck-chuck
- https://www.epicurious.com/archive/blogs/editor/2012/02/ways-to-eat-groundhog.html
- https://www.westchesterwildlife.com/blog/is-it-bad-to-have-a-groundhog-in-your-yard/
- https://www.brandywine.org/conservancy/blog/groundhogs-celebrating-benefits-hungry-troublemaker
- https://dengarden.com/gardening/How-to-Get-Rid-of-Woodchucks-Ground-Hogs
- https://talk.newagtalk.com/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=384564&DisplayType=flat&setCookie=1
- https://now.tufts.edu/2019/01/28/five-things-you-didnt-know-about-groundhogs
- https://a-z-animals.com/blog/woodchuck-vs-beaver/
- https://www.almanac.com/pest/groundhogs
- https://practicalselfreliance.com/clean-skin-groundhog-woodchuck/
- https://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/blog/groundhogs-facts/
- https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/facts/groundhog
- https://www.tomcatbrand.com/en-us/library/other-nuisance-animals/how-keep-groundhogs-out-yard-and-garden
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groundhog