How to Identify a Woodchuck

Often referred to as groundhogs or marmots, woodchucks (Marmota monax) are giant rodents that can be found in a large section of North America. Identifying a woodchuck is easy, but the decision of what to call it is entirely up to you.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Search for woodchucks in their natural habitats, which span from east-central Alaska and British Columbia to northern Idaho, through most of southern Canada and south to eastern Kansas, northern Alabama and Virginia. Woodchucks can be found in open fields, meadows and woodlands. Woodchucks are diurnal creatures and are most active during the early morning and late afternoon. These animals hibernate from late October to mid-February, so spotting one in the wild will be nearly impossible during these times.

2. Look closely at the animal's coat. Woodchucks have a uniformly colored, grizzled brown coat, with variations from reddish-brown to blackish-brown. Their coats are coarse, and their bellies are slightly paler than the rest of their fur.

3. Observe the tail, feet, ears and legs of the animal. A woodchuck will have dark brown or black feet, with short legs, small ears and a prominent, bushy tail.

4. Note size. Woodchucks weigh anywhere from 5 to 10 pounds, and are about 20- to 26-inches long, including the tail. Though rare, some exceptionally large woodchucks can weigh as much as 10 to 15 pounds.

5. Listen carefully for the woodchuck's trademark "chuck-chuck" sound that it makes while feeding. The animal will emit a loud, sharp whistle, followed by a softer whistle as it heads for its burrow. When agitated it will chatter its teeth, and it can also hiss, squeal and growl when aggressive.

Tips & Warnings

• Never attempt to pick up or pet a wild animal. Woodchucks, though herbivores, can be vicious and dangerous if cornered, so keep your distance and respect the animal and its territory.
• Several other species of marmots have habitats that slightly overlap that of a woodchuck's. A hoary marmot has a smaller range in the northwest of North America, while the yellow-bellied marmot is in the mountainous regions of the northwest United States.