lol One morning, the male drummed so well that he had two female Flickers on his drum with him.
lol One morning, the male drummed so well that he had two female Flickers on his drum with him.
Did some research! Guess I'm British now...
Groundhogs and woodchucks are actually two names for the same animal. They both belong to the species Marmota monax, which is a type of large ground squirrel. The difference in names likely comes from different etymologies from around the world. Here are some interesting facts about these creatures:
- Common Names:
- In American English, most people refer to them as groundhogs.
- In British English, they are called woodchucks.
- Other common names include whistle pig (due to their distinctive whistle-like call) and land beaver (describing their habitat and behaviors) 1
- Appearance:
- Groundhogs have brownish-gray fur and stockier bodies (about 16-20 inches long).
- Unlike squirrels, groundhogs have short, dark tails (4-7 inches long) 1.
- Hibernation:
- Groundhogs prepare for hibernation by stocking up on food sources during summer and fall.
- They are herbivores and enjoy eating vegetables, grasses, fruit, and tree bark.
- Interestingly, they only eat tree bark if they emerge from hibernation before vegetation has sprung 1.
- Geographical Distribution:
- Groundhogs are predominantly found in the eastern and central parts of North America.
- Woodchucks have a broader range, extending throughout the continent
Thats hilarious, I had no idea they could climb trees!A number of years ago as I was leaving for work in the afternoon, I noticed a strange growth on one of my large ash trees and went to take a closer look and it was a groundhog clinging to the side of the tree about 15 foot off the ground. He quickly scurried to the ground and ran off under my shed. It was the first time I ever saw one in a tree.