Welcome to Woodchuck Wonderland™
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WOODCHUCK WONDERLAND™ 2003-ONGOING In the year 2003, a woodchuck (groundhog) appeared in the yard. We named her Wilhelmina. I didn’t know much at all about groundhogs and began photographing her and her babies (chucklings). |
For unknown reason, she moved her babies from a burrow atop “Lookout Hill”, to a burrow in the front yard, just in front of the windows of our sun porch. She had seven chucklings, shown in the PHOTO GALLERY. Near the end of May, she moved them again to a burrow under our shed. The burrow atop Lookout Hill has not been used again. Eventually a male was identified as the mate of Wilhelmina. We named him Gregory.
By late 2004, I decided still photography was inadequate in capturing the activities of these marmots and the first, of an eventual four, camcorders was purchased. This proved to be a great decision as Wilhelmina had nine chucklings in 2005. As the chucklings became more active, some might be in the back yard, around the barn, rock garden, and shed while others found our front yard and deck a great place for a variety of activities including sleeping, eating, playing, and doing sentry duty. (See Link to You Tube Videos)
In 2007, red fox were in the area around our home which increased the chucks defensive behavior. Sightings of Gregory ceased. Gretchen Whiteface, offspring of Wilhelmina and Gregory, remained in the area. Wilhelmina did not have babies but two chucklings we named Bandi and Ringnose arrived and seemingly were well accepted by Wilhelmina and Whiteface. In 2008, Wilhelmina took a new mate, Woodrow. In autumn, we lost Whiteface apparently due to gun shot injuries. In 2009, when Wilhelmina emerged from hibernation, we noted she had incurred damage to both ears which appears to have resulted in some hearing impairment. We also noted Woodrow was limping, a condition which became increasingly severe in 2010. They did not have offspring in 2009. In 2010 in addition to Wilhelmina and Woodrow another mated pair, George and Gwynnie, and their offspring shared territory and burrows around the house. This year we did not see Woodrow. Wilhelmina and George became mates. What happened to Gwynnie remains a question at this point.
The groundhog is called by other names including woodchuck, whistle pig, and Marmota monax. Monax is an American Indian name meaning “the digger”. The groundhog contributes to soil improvement by bringing subsoil to the surface and exposing it to weathering action. Groundhogs have aided humans in the understanding and treatment of human disease and the hibernating abilities of the groundhog are of significant research interest in the space and medical industries.
Numerous myths and stories have circulated about woodchucks. For example, in 1883, the legislature of one state passed a bill authorizing a bounty of 10 cents for every woodchuck killed in the state. In part, they stated "The Woodchuck is not only a nuisance, but a bore. It burrows beneath the soil and then chuckles to see a mowing machine, man and all, slump into one of these holes and disappear." It has been stated that upright playfighting of young woodchucks is virtually unknown. Chasing and fighting are both very rare among woodchucks, only observed between adult females. Numerous publications have reported that the male woodchuck has no part in the raising of or caring for the young. It has also been reported that woodchucks do not drink, obtaining liquids from the juices of plants. Our observations tell a different story.