"Groundhog" Woodchuck "Marmot"
Description
A large marmot. Grizzled
brown (with variations from reddish to blackish); uniformly colored. Prominent
bushy tail. Small ears. Short legs. Feet dark brown or black. Incisors white.
L 16 1/2 - 32"; T 3 3/8 - 6"; HF 2 7/8 - 3 7/8"; Wt 4 1/2
- 14 lb.
Similar Species
Yellow-bellied Marmot,
usually paler and yellower, has whiteish spots between eyes and occurs farther
south and west.
Breeding
1 litter
per year of 4or 5 young born April-early May, after 28-day gestation. Blind
and naked at birth, they open their eyes and crawl at about 1 month and
disperse at 2 months.
Sign
Large burrow
openings, 8 - 12" across, with mounds of dirt just outside main entrance;
often additional escape openings with no mounds. When hay is high, woodchucks
tramp down trails, which radiate from burrows.
Habitat
Pastures, meadows, old
fields, and wooded areas.
Other
Other