groundhog facts for kids
A mated pair remains in the same den throughout the 31- to 32-day gestation period. Predators are fox, raccoons, coyotes, and farm dogs. Groundhogs have a curved spine.
A burrow is a small tunnel or hole dug by a small animal. Groundhogs hibernate longer in northern latitudes than southern latitudes. Groundhog Facts for Kids Groundhogs are diurnal, meaning they are active during the day.
Thought not to drink water, groundhogs are reported to obtain needed liquids from the juices of food-plants, aided by their sprinkling with rain or dew. Every single hole, may have tunnels which lead to as many as ten other holes, the tunnels are very large and can have chambers, like rooms, in them. Groundhogs eat grasses, berries, vegetables, grasshoppers, insects, and snails. The time spent observing groundhogs by field biologists represents only a small fraction of time devoted to the field research. The groundhog, also known as a woodchuck, is a husky, well-furred rodent common across much of North America.
Phil might be a celebrity once a year, but the rest of the time he probably prefers his me-time. Groundhogs may squeal when fighting, seriously injured, or caught by a predator. W.J.
It is common to see one or more nearly-motionless individuals standing erect on their hind feet watching for danger. The largest Groundhog Day Celebration is held in Punxsutawney Pennsylvania. Welcome to KidsPlayAndCreate.com, a website that’s dedicated to helping kids live their best lives ever through fun games, crafts, facts, cooking activities, self esteem advice and more! About Privacy Policy Resources Copyright © 2020 KidsPlayandCreate. Bachman mentioned that when the young groundhogs are a few months old, they prepare for separation, digging a number of holes in the area of their early home. A groundhog has climbed up to reach water in a bird bath.
Hey Kids! The average weight of the earth taken from all eleven dens was 384 pounds. Groundhogs are burrowers. Groundhogs are excellent burrowers, using burrows for sleeping, rearing young, and hibernating.
In the spring, females give birth in their dens to about three to five pups. When the groundhog enters hibernation, there is a drop in body temperature to as low as 35 degrees fahrenheit, heart rate falls to 4-10 beats per minute and breathing rate falls to one breath every six minutes. Groundhog burrows usually have two to five entrances, providing groundhogs their primary means of escape from predators. By the end of August, the family breaks up; or at least, the larger number scatter, to burrow on their own.
They can live up to 6 years old. Groundhogs weigh between 9-15 pounds.
Juvenile groundhog siblings on a morning in early June. Groundhogs are one of the few species that enter into true hibernation, and often build a separate "winter burrow" for this purpose. The longest burrow was 24 feet plus 2 short side galleries. Groundhogs can climb trees to escape predators, Motionless individual, alert to danger, will whistle when alarmed to warn other groundhogs, A groundhog mother and her cubs (kits) in a suburban yard. Like other squirrels, groundhogs have long tails that grow around 7 to 9.75 in (18 to 25 cm) long. A burrow is a small tunnel or hole dug by a small animal. The burrow is used for safety, retreat in bad weather, hibernating, sleeping, love nest, and nursery. Groundhogs, or woodchucks, are large rodents known for their burrowing habits and destructive behavior. When alarmed, they use a high-pitched whistle to warn the rest of the colony, hence the name "whistle-pig". Halloween 2020, The Absolute Best Zoom Activities and Games for Kids.
Groundhogs are also known as woodchucks or whistle-pigs. They are omnivores, meaning they eat meat and plants but, they mostly eat plants. How often is the groundhog right with predicting Spring? The Groundhog is a rodent. What do groundhogs eat? An adult groundhog will eat more than a pound of vegetation daily. In the United States, there is a holiday called Groundhog Day. KidsPlayAndCreate.com is an Amazon Affiliate and may earn a small commission for products that are purchased through Amazon via our affiliate links.
Fisher investigated nine burrows, finding the deepest point to be forty-nine inches down.
Schoonmaker excavated 11 dens finding the earth removed from these averaged six cubic feet or four and eight-tenths bushels per den. Diet.
Description of the length of the burrow often includes the side galleries of the burrow.
Groundhogs also occasionally eat grubs, grasshoppers, insects, snails and other small animals, but are not as omnivorous as many other Sciuridae. The little ones are raised by the mother alone, for around 5 – 6 weeks. And it's not just the groundhog that uses its burrowâanimals such as rabbits, chipmunks, and snakes move in once a groundhog has moved out.
Fun Turkey Facts for Kids, What Happens in Fall? As birth of the young approaches in April or May, the male leaves the den. Let's see what other interesting facts Mr. Orlando can tell us about groundhogs. (6 kilograms), which is about twice the average weight of a newborn human baby.
It is also called a woodchuck. Babies are born hairless, helpless, and blind. They encourage their young to copy their behaviors and during this time may differ from usual routines. Ken Armitage, marmot researcher, states that the social biology of the groundhog is well understudied.
They are rodents and are the largest animal in the squirrel family.
February 2nd is Groundhog Day in the United States, and Jessi and Squeaks are celebrating by sharing all kinds of amazing groundhog facts with us! In early spring, dandelion and coltsfoot are important groundhog food items. Juvenile groundhog siblings play-fighting. Other sounds groundhogs may make are low barks and a sound produced by grinding their teeth.
Burrows also provide protection from predators such as coyotes, hawks, and black bears. Groundhogs live near fence lines, vegetable farms, cornfields, or fruit orchards.
Some say he is between 75%-90% correct others say 35%. Phil lives in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania , where every Groundhog Day people wait for him to come out of his burrow.
(They actually have separate bathrooms!) Groundhogs live in the Eastern part of North America. Well, at least on February 2 he is.
People have been gathering in Punxsutawney Pennsylvania to celebrate Groundhogs Day since the late 1800s. The animal may also be called Woodchuck, or Whistlepig. In addition to the nest, there is an excrement chamber. He said it was possible to conclude, alternatively, that upright play-fighting is part of the woodchuck's behavioral repertory but rarely shown because of physical spacing and/or low social tolerance.
How did they get their own holiday? If the groundhog sees a shadow, then it goes back into its burrow and Winter will last 6 more weeks. Groundhog mothers introduce their young to the wild once their fur is grown in and they can see.
The amount of soil taken from this den was eight bushels and it weighed 640 pounds. Groundhogs are famous for predicting Spring. During hibernation, they experience periods of torpor and arousal. Those squirrels are also known as marmots. Well, at least on February 2 he is. Instead of storing food, groundhogs stuff themselves to survive the winter without eating. Phil lives in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, where every Groundhog Day people wait for him to come out of his burrow.
Groundhogs will occasionally eat snails, insects and baby birds they come upon by accident. It belongs to the group of ground squirrels. The breeding season extends from early March to mid- or late April, after hibernation. Fall/Autumn Facts for Kids 2020, Fun Halloween Facts for Kids! Legend has it that if Phil sees his shadow, six more weeks of winter will follow. From head to rump, groundhogs are 17.75 to 24 inches (45 to 61 centimeters) long, according to National Geographic.
The gestation period is of about 28 to 32 days and the male groundhog leaves before the young are born. Males emerge from hibernation before females. Like squirrels, they also have been observed sitting up eating nuts such as shagbark hickory, but unlike squirrels, do not bury them for future use. They weigh around 13 lbs. They are rodents and are the largest animal in the squirrel family. Despite their heavy-bodied appearance, groundhogs are accomplished swimmers and occasionally climb trees when escaping predators or when they want to survey their surroundings. But burrows are super-important to groundhogs. In most areas, groundhogs hibernate from October to March or April, but in more temperate areas, they may hibernate as little as three months. Where do groundhogs live? After all, the word monax in the groundhogâs scientific name means âsolitary.â, Groundhogs often burrow under open areas such as meadows and farmlands, which can make the critter a real nuisance to farmers.
They are between 16 inches and 26 inches long with a 6-inch tail. Groundhogs prepare for hibernation by putting on weight. Usually groundhogs breed in their second year, but a small proportion may breed in their first. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website.
To survive the winter, they are at their maximum weight shortly before entering hibernation. These round creatures look like little bears when they stand up on their hind legs.
Mostly herbivorous, groundhogs eat primarily wild grasses and other vegetation, including berries and agricultural crops, when available.In early spring, dandelion and coltsfoot are important groundhog food items. All rights reserved. Groundhogs are diurnal, meaning they are active during the day.
(People aren't the only ones who tripâcows can stumble too!). W.J.
Groundhogs dig tunnels and live underground. By around two months old, theyâre off on their ownâwhether they see their shadows or not. They emerge from hibernation with some remaining body fat to live on until the warmer spring weather produces abundant plant materials for food. Some of these holes were only a few feet deep and never occupied but the numerous burrows gave the impression that groundhogs live in communities. Mostly herbivorous, groundhogs eat primarily wild grasses and other vegetation, including berries and agricultural crops, when available. In a June 7, 2009 Humane Society of the United States article, "How to Humanely Chuck a Woodchuck Out of Your Yard", John Griffin, director of Humane Wildlife Services, stated you would have to have a lot of woodchucks working over a lot of years to create tunnel systems that would pose any risk to a structure. Learn what groundhogs eat, where they live, and how they make it through tough winters! Groundhogs hibernate, meaning they spend their winter’s sleep. Though groundhogs are the most solitary of the marmots, several individuals may occupy the same burrow.
A Baby Alive Review, The Best Maternity/Pregnancy Pillows on the Market, The Best Baby Bottle Sterilizers on the Market, The Best Soothers and Sound Machines for Baby and Toddlers, Create a Thanksgiving Dinner Worksheet for Kids, Halloween Quotes, Sayings and Rhyming Words for Kids, Can Turkeys Fly? Groundhog hibernation gave rise to the popular U.S. custom of Groundhog Day, held on the second of February every year. They're where the rodents sleep, raise their babies, and even poop.
Excluding the side galleries, Schoonmaker reports the longest was twenty-four feet, with the average length of eleven dens dug out to be fourteen feet. This page was last modified on 21 October 2020, at 21:17. They use their burrows or dens for sleeping, caring for babies, and hibernation.
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