Woodchuck, Whistle Pig, Ground Hog

Clancy, our golden retriever, loves to retrieve. He also loves to chew on beef bones. The other day he carried one of his bones with him when he went on a walk. Somewhere along the walk something else–probably a squirrel–grabbed his attention, and he dropped his bone.

A few days later on the same walking path, he rediscovered his bone and proudly carried it home with him. His bone was now decorated with a line of deep incisions along one side. This was definitely not a pattern that Clancy could create. It was most likely the work of a very large rodent who goes by several names including ground hog, woodchuck and whistle pig. The chew marks showed where both the upper and lower incisors gnawed, leaving a ridge between.

Woodchucks are native to North America, and the name woodchuck is said to be an anglicized version of their Algonquin name, “wuchak.” “Whistle pig” is due to the high-pitched alarm whistle that they emit when in danger. And ground hog is what Punxsutawney Phil likes to be called. They are all the same animal, scientifically known as Marmota monax.  Woodchucks are a species of rodents in the squirrel family that can weigh up to 14 pounds. They have grizzled brown fur on their backs and a lighter chestnut-colored underside. They have a somewhat flattened furry tail and powerful legs with curved claws. The head is broad and short and flattened, with small rounded ears and small eyes.

Photo from Wikimedia.org by Chris Flook Alt text: The most well-known woodchuck/ground hog in the world, Punxsutawney Phil, is held aloft on a cold February morning in Pennsylvania. Stout rodent gets press as the prognosticator of winter’s end.

Our woodchuck used its four huge incisors to make the marks on Clancy’s bone. These chisel-shaped teeth are white and make a cut about half an inch wide. They grow a 16^th of an inch every week, so they have to be maintained by gnawing and chewing everything they can find. The teeth are also aligned in such a way that they grind against each other when the woodchuck closes its jaws. If they’re not kept down by constantly grinding and gnawing, or if the teeth are misaligned, the woodchuck can actually starve to death because they won’t be able to eat. Woodchucks do not make good pets because, among other things, they will gnaw their way out of anything.

In the wild, or in the garden, they gnaw on grasses and trees and flowers. They are particularly fond of corn, lettuce, peas and beans and will eat a few insects.

Woodchucks are solitary animals who don’t live in community. Instead, each one claims a territory and sets up housekeeping on their own. They live in extensive burrows that they construct by digging with their strong legs and claws. They excavate tunnels up to 30 or even 40 feet long with turnaround areas, a nesting room, a waste disposal area, and sleeping spaces. After they dig the main tunnels, they create additional escape routes. These tunnels, which extend downward two to six feet, might be used for several years by the woodchucks. Later they will be inhabited by other ground-dwellers who don’t have to do the heavy work of excavating their own tunnels.

Woodchucks are true hibernators. In the late summer and fall, they are busy eating massive amounts of fruits, berries, apples etc. layering on the fat they need to survive their hibernation. In the late fall, they descend to their sleeping areas deep in their burrows. Their heart rate drops from 100 to four beats a minute; and their body temperature drops from 99 degrees to 40 degrees. By spring they will have used up all the fat they gained in the summer and fall and will probably wake up very hungry in February or so. The males wake up first and start sniffing around females’ burrows planning their mating strategy. And, of course, they have to start chewing. Clancy will have to find another bone. I’m keeping this one.

Feature photo by Author. Alt text: Sun-bleached dog chew bone with deep gnawed grooves along its length and at the ends. Work of a woodchuck.