What the sources say
GroundhogMarmota monax
Every figure, record and mechanism on the Groundhog profile was written from a source, and this is the working table behind it: 42 claims checked word for word against these sources. The left column is what the page says. The right column is the source's own words, copied, not paraphrased; a ... marks a cut and[brackets] an insertion. Open any source and check it yourself.
Profile updated
Source
01
Cassola 2016
Cassola (2016). Marmota monax. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T42458A115189992.
- The page saysLeast Concern
- The source says
Least Concern
Note: conservationStatus; the quote is the category line from GBIF's copy of the Red List, assessment 2016 - The page saysThe Red List rates it Least Concern.
- The source says
IUCN Red List category: Least Concern (LC).
Source
02
Kerwin & Maslo
Kerwin & Maslo. Ecology and Management of the Groundhog (Marmota monax). Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station.
- The page saysThe largest marmot in its range, a tunnelling rodent that sleeps through the winter and warns its neighbours with a shrill whistle.
- The source says
are the largest marmot species in the range, weighing 5-15 lbs. and measuring 16-26 inches long
Note: tagline; winter sleep and whistle claimed below - The page saysThe groundhog is the largest marmot in its range. It weighs 5 to 15 pounds and measures 16 to 26 inches long.
- The source says
are the largest marmot species in the range, weighing 5-15 lbs. and measuring 16-26 inches long
- The page saysIt belongs to the squirrel family, and you can find it across much of Canada and the eastern United States.
- The source says
Groundhogs can be found across much of Canada and the eastern United States
- The page saysIt belongs to the squirrel family
- The source says
belong to the squirrel family Sciuridae
- The page saysOpen clearings, woodland edges, roadsides, fields and stream banks across much of Canada and the eastern United States
- The source says
including open clearings, woodland edges, roadsides, fields, and riparian areas
Note: stats.habitat - The page saysDigs tunnel networks up to 30 feet long, with separate chambers for hibernation
- The source says
groundhogs maintain complex networks of tunnels that can extend 4 to 5 feet beneath the ground surface and up to 30 feet in length
Note: stats.superpower - The page saysWith them it digs tunnel networks that can reach 4 to 5 feet down and up to 30 feet in length.
- The source says
groundhogs maintain complex networks of tunnels that can extend 4 to 5 feet beneath the ground surface and up to 30 feet in length
- The page saysIts tools are long, curved claws and strong limbs.
- The source says
Using their long, curved claws and strong limbs
- The page saysA burrow often has several entrances and separate chambers for hibernation, which is deep winter sleep.
- The source says
Burrows often contain multiple access and egress points, as well as separate chambers for hibernation
- The page saysit has big front teeth, called incisors, that grow continuously.
- The source says
groundhogs have large incisors, which grow continuously to compensate for the extreme wear and tear they experience from grazing vegetation and gnawing through roots while excavating burrows
- The page saysGrazing and gnawing through roots wear them down.
- The source says
extreme wear and tear they experience from grazing vegetation and gnawing through roots while excavating burrows
- The page saysGroundhogs are surprisingly sanitary, even dedicating separate chambers for defecation.
- The source says
Groundhogs are surprisingly sanitary, even dedicating separate chambers for defecation!
Note: blockquote - The page saysIn summer, a groundhog can eat up to 1.5 pounds of plants a day.
- The source says
They can eat up to 1.5 lbs. of vegetation per day during the summer
- The page saysThat adds 11.5 to 20 grams of body weight daily, depending on sex and age.
- The source says
leading to a 11.5-20-gram weight gain per day, depending on sex and age
- The page saysIn spring it favours clover
- The source says
In spring groundhogs favor species of clover
Note: clover; later foods next claim - The page sayslater in the growing season it seeks out berries, corn, tomatoes, alfalfa and apples from fields and gardens.
- The source says
groundhogs will seek out various berries, corn, tomatoes, alfalfa, and apples from cultivated fields and backyard gardens
- The page saysIt will occasionally eat bird eggs, beetles, snails and grasshoppers.
- The source says
groundhogs will occasionally consume bird eggs and invertebrates including beetles, snails, and grasshoppers
- The page saysPlants such as clover, berries, corn and apples, and occasionally bird eggs, insects and snails
- The source says
Although they are primarily vegetarians, groundhogs will occasionally consume bird eggs and invertebrates including beetles, snails, and grasshoppers.
Note: stats.diet; foods above - The page saysHibernation starts in October or November.
- The source says
which begins in October or November
- The page saysBoth sexes wake briefly in February, when males claim territories and look for females.
- The source says
Male and female groundhogs arouse from hibernation for short periods in February, which allows males to establish territories and search for females
- The page saysThey go back to sleep and finally emerge in March.
- The source says
Both sexes then return to their respective burrows for additional deep-sleep periods before finally emerging in March
- The page saysA female has one litter of 2 to 6 young a year.
- The source says
Females produce one litter of 2-6 young
- The page saysThe kits are born blind and hairless.
- The source says
Kits are born blind and hairless
- The page saysAfter about 2 months of care they leave to find their own territories.
- The source says
After about 2 months of care, the juvenile groundhogs leave their natal site to find their own territories.
- The page saysGroundhogs are prey for coyotes, bobcats, eagles, hawks, owls and weasels.
- The source says
Groundhogs are also an important prey item for coyotes, bobcats, eagles, hawks, owls, and weasels.
- The page saysIn the wild a groundhog lives 4 to 6 years on average.
- The source says
Groundhogs live an average of 4 to 6 years in the wild
- The page saysGroundhogs are the best non-human model for studying hepatitis B, a virus that damages the human liver.
- The source says
Groundhogs serve as the best non-human model for studying the hepatitis B virus, which causes liver damage and liver cancer in humans if left untreated.
- The page saysThey can be infected with a similar disease called woodchuck hepatitis virus. Studying infected groundhogs helps researchers understand the virus and develop new treatments for people with hepatitis B.
- The source says
Groundhogs can be infected with a similar disease known as woodchuck hepatitis virus (WHV), which also causes liver cancer. By studying groundhogs infected with WHV, researchers can better understand the pathogenesis of the virus and develop new therapies to treat humans with hepatitis B.
- The page saysOnce abandoned, these burrows give shelter and breeding space to many other animals, including rabbits, raccoons, foxes, river otters and snakes.
- The source says
Abandoned groundhog burrows are used by many other wildlife species for shelter and breeding, including cottontail rabbits, raccoons, foxes, river otters, eastern chipmunks, and a wide variety of small mammals, snakes, and birds.
- The page saysBoth names, plus whistlepig and land beaver, belong to *Marmota monax*.
- The source says
Known by several common names such as whistlepig, land beaver, and woodchuck
- The page saysGerman migrants brought the tradition to Pennsylvania in the mid-1800s
- The source says
German migrants brought the tradition of Groundhog Day to Pennsylvania in the mid-1800s.
- The page saysin Europe the animal was originally a badger or a hedgehog.
- The source says
(originally a badger or hedgehog in Europe)
- The page saysIt is a legend.
- The source says
According to the myth, if a groundhog (originally a badger or hedgehog in Europe) emerges from its den and sees its shadow, then six more weeks of winter lie ahead.
Note: FAQ
Source
03
Tobias
Tobias. Marmota monax (woodchuck). Animal Diversity Web.
- The page saysA threatened groundhog often defends itself with its teeth and gives a shrill whistle.
- The source says
They often use their teeth to defend themselves and produce a shrill whistle when threatened.
- The page saysThe whistle also warns other groundhogs, especially juveniles.
- The source says
Whistles also serve as a warning call to conspecifics, especially juveniles.
- The page saysTo avoid predators it climbs trees and stops to look up while feeding.
- The source says
Woodchucks avoid predators by climbing trees and looking up periodically while feeding.
- The page saysWild groundhogs average 4 to 6 years, but predators and disease mean many do not live past age 3.
- The source says
Woodchucks live 4 to 6 years in the wild but, due to predation and disease, often do not live past age 3.
Note: FAQ - The page says"Woodchuck" comes from a Native American word, which one account translates roughly as "the digger".
- The source says
The word "woodchuck" is a misinterpretation of their Native American name "wuchak", which roughly translates as "the digger".
- The page saysOne account suggests the legend began because groundhogs often go back into hibernation after leaving their dens too early.
- The source says
The legend of Groundhog Day is likely due to the fact that woodchucks often re-enter hibernation after emerging from their dens prematurely.
Note: FAQ - The page saysA threatened groundhog gives a shrill whistle that also warns other groundhogs
- The source says
They often use their teeth to defend themselves and produce a shrill whistle when threatened.
Note: vibe.reason
How the table was made: a writer drafted the profile from these sources and logged each claim with its quote, a reviewer with nothing but this table checked every sentence said no more than its quote, and a script confirmed each quote appears word for word in the source. The method is in the site'sAbout page.