Groundhog

Description:

The groundhog is also known as a woodchuck, whistle-pig, or land-beaver in some areas. The groundhog is one of the major hole-digging mammals of eastern North America. The average groundhog excavates over 700 pounds of dirt digging just one den, and a single groundhog may have four or or five dens scattered across its territory, moving in and out of them. The main entrance of an active groundhog den is fairly easy to spot, as a small mound of exposed dirt will be packed at the entrance, providing a small rise from which the groundhog can view the world, or sun itself. Groundhogs are vegetarians.

Habitat:

Look for groundhog dens in hedge rows along the edges of rolling farm fields. This groundhog was spotted resting on his mound at Kinder Farm Park, Millersville, Maryland.