What fun for Charlotte and I to catch a glimpse of this very plump Woodchuck emerging from a woodland edge.
Also known as Groundhogs, Whistle Pigs, and Land Beavers, Woodchucks are fattening up for their winter hibernation. At this time of year they are bodacious eaters and may even double in weight. Come the end of October or beginning of November, Woodchucks will enter their expertly dug burrow. Deep enough that their winter home is below the frost-line, the burrow is a series of side passages and chambers that also includes a separate toilet area. The burrow usually has at least two entrances and may meander for up to 50 feet.
Groundhogs are one of the few mammals that enter true hibernation. How does a mammal survive 4 to 5 months underground we wondered? The Goundhog’s breathing slows from about 16 breaths per minute to as few as two and its heart rate slows from about 80 beats per minute to five. The slowed metabolism allows the Woodchuck to conserve its energy and it will only lose about one fourth of its body weight.
Included in the short is a cute back side shot because he’s sooooo wide. At this time of year, a male can weigh 14 pounds or more!
