Tellingly, another moniker is “whistle-pig,” referring both to
groundhogs’
warning call and their voracious appetites. Native to most of North America from southern Alaska to Georgia, groundhogs are a type of rodent called a marmot.
What states call groundhogs whistle pigs?
Woodchucks in
Massachusetts
They are found throughout the state except on Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard. Often called “groundhogs” or “whistle-pigs,” they are not in the pig family at all. Woodchucks are burrowing members of the squirrel family, which includes tree squirrels, flying squirrels, and chipmunks.
Why are groundhogs sometimes called whistle pigs?
The name whistle-pig, which is most common in Appalachia, stems
from groundhogs’ habit of making a high-pitched whistling sound
, usually as a warning to other groundhogs when they feel threatened. (The pig is similar to how we refer to woodchucks’ rodent-cousin the guinea pig.)
Is a woodchuck and a groundhog the same thing?
Groundhogs have many colorful names, including “whistle-pig” for their tendency to emit short, high-pitched whistles. They’re also known as
land beavers
, but their most famous nickname is woodchuck.
Are groundhogs friendly to humans?
Woodchucks (also known as groundhogs) are unusually busy at this time of year as they try to put on fat for hibernation. … Although woodchucks can get rabies, daytime activity is normal for them.
People can peacefully coexist with woodchucks because they’re not aggressive and typically don’t transmit diseases
.
Is it bad to have a groundhog in your yard?
The short answer is
YES, you should
. Groundhogs, also known as woodchucks, are aggressive animals that are hard to get rid of when they invade your property. These rodents usually dig burrows in grassy areas and eat through gardens causing a lot of damage.
Are groundhogs good for anything?
A
groundhog will help itself to anything
and everything you have planted. They are vegetarians and are partial to leaves, flowers and grasses. They especially like certain garden crops like carrots, beans and peas. They will even climb trees to eat apples and pears.
Do groundhogs really scream?
A groundhog by any other name.
The name whistle-pig comes from the fact that, when
alarmed, a groundhog will emit a high-pitched whistle as a warning to the rest of
his or her colony. … It is derived from the Algonquian name for the critters, wuchak.
How do you tell the difference between a male and female groundhog?
The male
and female look a lot alike
, but the male will typically be slightly larger in size, weighing in around 4-15 pounds and are 16-20′′ with a 4′′-7′′ tail, chunky body, short legs and incredible curved claws designed for digging burrows, which is the typical reason for people requesting groundhog removals.
Do groundhogs make sounds?
Groundhogs make a
shrill whistling sound
as an alarm call.
What do groundhogs hate the most?
Plants with strong fragrances, such as
lavender
, will keep groundhogs out of your garden. The Farmers’ Almanac says groundhogs also dislike the smell of these herbs: mint, sage, basil, lemon balm, rosemary, thyme, chives and oregano.
Does bubble gum really work on groundhogs?
Noel Falk, the “Plant Doctor” had recommended using “Double Bubble” brand bubble gum to eliminate groundhogs. Supposedly groundhogs love this particular brand of bubble gum, but
once they eat it, it gums up their insides and ultimately kills them
.
What months do groundhogs mate?
Usually groundhogs breed in their second year, but a small proportion may breed in their first. The breeding season extends from
early March to mid- or late April
, after hibernation.
Can groundhogs be friendly?
In general, groundhog social groups consist of one adult male and two adult females, each with an offspring from the previous breeding season (usually female), and the current litter of infants.
Interactions within a female’s group are generally friendly
.
Can groundhogs be domesticated?
Groundhogs do not make good pets
, as they obviously dig and chew through almost anything in their path. Odds are, they will find a way out of a cage and will escape eventually. … Baby groundhogs are very sensitive, and can die if not given the proper attention. Despite being cute, groundhogs do not make good pets.
Are groundhogs smart?
Groundhogs may look like clumsy, dumb creatures.
They are actually quite smart
. They know when something looks or smells funny. Late winter and early spring are the best times to find burrows.
