02/02/2022
Happy Groundhog Day! These large rodents are also called Woodchucks and Whistlepigs. Groundhogs (Marmota monax) are found across the eastern United States, including the mountains and upper Piedmont in the Carolinas and Georgia. They’re slowly expanding their range in the Piedmont and can be found into the Coastal Plain further north. Common places to spot one include roadsides, pastures, and along streams. I’ve even seen them going into storm drains in suburban areas.
True to their name, Groundhogs spend much of their time in burrows under rocks, trees, and sheds. Across much of their range, Groundhogs hibernate in winter, but will periodically arouse and briefly leave their burrow (but probably not to look for their shadow). Here in the South, it’s not uncommon to see Groundhogs active on winter days. Photo by Gilles Gonthier, CC BY 2.0
