Groundhog

Description:

Normally brown, this Woodchuck black (melanistic) is black. Looks like a little bear. Large head, chunky body, short legs. small bush tail.Woodchucks are occasionally found with melanistic or albino fur. The fur of melanistic specimens is completely black. Albinos, on the other hand, have no color in their fur at all, and even their eyes lack pigmentation, merely showing a pinkish tinge from blood vessels near the surface. Being white, they are conspicuous, and usually fall easily to predators.

Habitat:

Outside of his hole in the field.

Notes:

Vermont Fish & Wildlife August 8 at 12:46pm Department of Fish and Wildlife: Doreen -- We do sometimes see black (melanistic) woodchucks in Vermont. Thank you for sending in the photo.