How to Identify Groundhogs
The Groundhog, also known as the Woodchuck, is a large rodent famous in the United States because of the Groundhog Day celebration in February. If you want to know how to identify a groundhog, here's how you can do it.
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Instructions
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Look for groundhogs throughout most of Canada and in the eastern United States, primarily in the northeast, the mid Atlantic and in the Great Lakes areas.
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Learn about the preferred habitats of the Groundhog. They live in woodlands, open forest edges, fields, brushy areas and ravines.
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Pay attention to the size of the large, stocky rodents. They weigh between 2.2 and 4.5 kg on average. The total length of their head and body usually ranges from 40 to 51 cm. Their tails comprise approximately one quarter of their body length and range from 10 to 18 cm long.
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Observe the physical appearance of the Groundhog. They are usually brownish in color and have a frosted appearance because their hairs often have light colored tips. Groundhogs also have a flattened head, brown or black colored feet, white coloring near their noses and a short and bushy tail. They also have 22 teeth.
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Take note of their short legs and thick claws. The forefeet each have four claws and the hindfeet have five claws.
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Listen for their sounds. Groundhogs make various sounds including squeals, shrill whistles and low barks. They also make sounds by grinding their teeth.
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Tips & Warnings
Don't confuse the Groundhog with the Hoary Marmot. The Hoary Marmot has black and white on its shoulders and head unlike the Groundhog.
