Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Baby Groundhogs Resemble Squirrels for a Reason



Very young groundhogs are commonly found on April and May digs. On some farms I hunt, they are dispatched at the request of the farmer, and others they are let go because the farmer does not particularly care if they are about (a corn crop is not much affected by groundhogs, while soybeans can be chewed up, especially on the edge of fields).

What's the difference between a groundhog and a woodchuck? Not a thing; just different names for the same animal.

Baby groundhogs remind us that the adult animals are actually members of the squirrel family (Sciuridae) of the genus Marmota.

The Eastern chipmunk is the groundhog's closest relative. Woodchucks are the largest members of the squirrel family and the only solitary-living marmot.
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