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Table of Contents
Groundhog, otherwise known as woodchuck, is one amongst the fourteen species of enormous ground squirrels known as Marmots. They hibernate through winter to spring and eat all summer to build up fat reserves.
See the fact file below for more information on the groundhog or alternatively, you can download our 23-page Groundhog worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.
Key Facts & Information
ALL ABOUT GROUNDHOG
- Groundhogs are rodents that are considered to be the largest members of the squirrel family. These rodents measures 17.75 to 24 inches long from head to rump according to National Geographic.They weigh up to 13 lbs (6kg) and their tail can reach 18cm long. When they stand up on their hind legs, they look like small bears. Having sharp claws, groundhogs can dig large underground burrows. These rodents have incisors that grow during warm months by 1/16 inch each week.
- Behaviour. Aside from being excellent burrow diggers, they also have excellent swimming and climbing capabilities. They usually climb when escaping a threat or when they want to check their surroundings. Groundhogs are known to be antagonistic and dominant among their own species. They are mostly herbivorous and are most active in the morning and evening, eating grasses and other vegetation.They feed vigorously in summer and late-summer, collecting immense fat stores for the winter.
MORE ABOUT GROUNDHOG
- Habitat. Groundhogs are found distinctly in North America. They like to stay on the end of woodlands and open spaces. They can dig deep and extensive burrows that can be 6 feet deep and 20 feet wide. They use these burrows for sleeping, rearing, and hibernating. Usually, they have a burrow in the forested areas for the winter and in lush regions for the hotter months.
- Hibernation. This animal is one of the few species that truly hibernates. In winter, groundhogs enter into hibernation where their body temperature drops, adapting to the ambient temperature of their burrow. Their heartbeat slows down from 80 beats to 5 beats per minute. At this time, these rodents experience arousal. When they come out in the month of February, the male searches for females’ burrows. They come out of hibernation with some remaining fats to sustain them until they can feed heavily again.
- Reproduction. Following hibernation is usually the breeding season. During pregnancy, the male and female groundhog stay together in the same den. After a month, the mother gives birth to 2 to 6 young, which are called kits, pups, or chucklings. At the time of birth, the male leaves the female groundhog and returns when the young are introduced to the wild. In two years, the young groundhogs reach maturity. The typical lifespan of a groundhog in the wild is three to six years.
- Fun Facts
- The groundhog’s after hibernation behavior prompted the observance of Groundhog Day.
- Groundhogs are capable of building complex and intricate burrows.
- A groundhog is known to be responsible for uncovering a historic village in Ohio, USA, considered now as an archeological site.
- Groundhog Known Threats. The groundhog is considered as least concern on the International Union of Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. But they pose a threat to agriculture and residential developments. Here are signs of damage that can help detect groundhog presence nearby: wide teeth marks on wood/low lying trees, mounds of soil outside a burrow entrance, deep holes in the ground, damaged crops, weakened building foundations, chewed tubings, and claw markings.
LEGACY: GROUNDHOG DAY
- Groundhog Day rose from a popular legend in the United States that when a groundhog emerges from hibernation each year, if it doesn’t see its shadow due to clear weather, it goes back to its burrow for another 6 weeks.
Groundhog Worksheets
This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about the groundhog across 23 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Groundhog worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the groundhog, otherwise known as woodchuck, which is one amongst the fourteen species of enormous ground squirrels known as Marmots. They hibernate through winter to spring and eat all summer to build up fat reserves.
Complete List Of Included Worksheets
- Fact Sheets
- My Groundhog story
- Knowing A Groundhog
- Groundhog Signs Of Damages
- Groundhog Or A Small Bear?
- News Alert: Burrows Found
- My Groundhog Version
- Facts About Groundhog
- Who Is Groundhog?
- Groundhog Acrostic
- Body Parts Of A Groundhog
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Link will appear as Groundhog Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, September 19, 2019
Use With Any Curriculum
These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.