Scientific Collaboration Work with us to further your research ideas.Take Action with Us Want to protect wildlife? Join the zoo in our efforts, locally and globally.Learn about our greater commitment to wildlife conservation. Conservation & Science Science happens here.Plants & Gardens Discover the natural plant ecosystems-filled with beautiful flowers, trees, and other flora-across the zoo.Animal Care & Welfare Learn about the zoo’s commitment to advancing animal care and welfare.Explore all the animals at the zoo and learn about their specially designed habitats. Animals & Exhibits We are home to nearly 200 species.Animals & Gardens Hundreds of animal and plant species live at the zoo-from lemurs to lizards, flora to fauna.Guest Guidelines Creating a safe, welcoming space for all is a responsibility for everyone.See specific accessibility information, policies, and procedures for zoo visitors. Accessibility The zoo was designed with everyone in mind.Zoo Map A digital map of all things at the zoo, covering all 49 acres.Visitor FAQs Answers to the most common questions about visiting the zoo.Explore our daily activities, experiences, and attractions. Things to Do There’s always something fun to do at the zoo.Shopping & Dining Hours, availability, and information about the Gift Shop and dining options.Hours & Location The zoo is open 365 days a year, and entry is always free.Woodchucks are the only marmots east of the Mississippi River.Open every day: Gates at 8 a.m., Buildings at 10 a.m. They are the largest members of the squirrel family. T heir burrows consist of more than 50 feet of tunnels, buried 5 ft. Due to this, they do not travel too far from their burrow entrances. Groundhogs are not the fastest species, reaching top speeds of only 8 mph. They have incredibly dense bones, which means they can survive major blows to the skull that would be fatal to other similarly sized animals. Groundhogs need to eat 1/3 of their body weight a day in Spring and Summer. They are typically loners, though den near others in a communal location for protection against predators. Groundhog burrows have revealed two archeological sites! Humans do no receive Hepatitis from groundhogs infected with WHV, but the virus and its affects on the liver make the groundhog the best available animal for the study of viral hepatitis in humans. This virus is similar to that of the Human Hepatitis B Virus. A percentage of the woodchuck population is infected with Woodchuck Hepatitis Virus (WHV). Groundhogs are used in medical research on Hepatitis B-induced liver cancer. There are no consistent correlations between the groundhog seeing its shadow and the arrival of Spring. If the groundhog does not see its shadow due to cloudiness, Spring will arrive early. Tradition dictates that if an emerging groundhog sees its shadow due to clear weather, it will retreat to its den and winter will continue for 6 more weeks. It is known as Groundhog's Day, and occurs on February 2nd. and Canada, a yearly celebration is dedicated to groundhogs. Often times, a groundhogs burrow will be used by many other species if left unattended. They have extremely powerful jaws and will defend their burrows tenaciously against intruders. Groundhogs are one of a few species that enter true hibernation and often have a separate den sites for it. They alert other groundhogs using a high pitched whistle to warn the rest of the colony of nearby danger. Groundhogs are also called woodchucks, whistle pigs, land beavers and the Canada Marmot. Males emerge from hibernation in March to April.įemales take longer than males to wake up from hibernation. The male then returns to help encourage the young to copy the adult's behavior and learn survival skills.īy August the family breaks up and scatter to dig burrows of their own. The female introduces the young to the wild once they grow fur and are no longer blind. The male leaves the den after the young are born. Gestation period is 31 to 32 days, with about 2-6 offspring to a litter. This is after hibernation.Ī mated pair will stay together in the same den until the birth of the young. Groundhogs usually breed in their second year of life.īreeding season is from March to mid- or late April. They are often active in the early morning and late afternoon. In Spring, they will also eat grubs, grasshoppers, insects, and snailsĪctivity: Mostly diurnal. Their diet varies usually consisting of wild grasses and other vegetation, including berries. Groundhogs are heavier in the Fall than in early Spring. Lifespan: Can live up to 6 years, though most average 2-3 years.Īdult groundhogs weigh 2-6.5 kg (4.4-13.9 lb)
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