Woodchucks

When these husky rodents cease hibernation and emerge from their 2 to 5 foot deep burrows, spring has supposedly arrived. Found in the northern half of the United States, the animals are commonly called woodchucks or groundhogs in the East, marmots in the West. They’re stocky and brown-coated, 16 to 20 inches long, with a furry tail and long, curved claws adapted for digging. As it excavates its burrow, a woodchuck creates a large telltale mound of soil.

Woodchucks are largely solitary (offspring are booted out of the burrow as soon as they can fend for themselves); they feed above ground during the day instead of tunneling for food. Frequently, an abandoned burrow is quickly taken over by another woodchuck or other burrowing animal. Since woodchucks can transmit diseases, don’t stick your hand into a burrow or try handling the animals.