![]() ![]() It may have its roots in the Algonquian (or perhaps Narragansett) name for the animal: wuchak. It's thought to be a corruption of the Native American words wejack, woodshaw, or woodchoock. Surprisingly, the name woodchuck doesn't have anything to do with wood. They're also known as land beavers, but their most famous nickname is woodchuck. Groundhogs have many colorful names, including "whistle-pig" for their tendency to emit short, high-pitched whistles. Now, PETA is arguing to replace groundhogs with robot groundhogs equipped with artificial intelligence that detects shadows. Some animal rights groups have long taken issue with Groundhog Day, arguing that these shy animals should not be put on display or interrupted from their natural hibernation cycle. "He became the one to prophesize whether winter would come or not." There's a movement to replace them with robots. "When the Europeans came over here, they didn't have any hedgehogs or badgers to lay the blame on, so I think the groundhog got it by being here and being a good size," speculates Thorington. How it wound up being the groundhog’s responsibility in the U.S. In Europe, however, the animal used was generally a hedgehog or a badger. According to the folklore, a sunny Candlemas Day means a longer winter. While the reported origins of Groundhog Day are many, the concept is thought to be linked to the Germanic tradition of Candlemas Day, a Christian feast day. " the most widely distributed marmot of all of them, as far south as northern Alabama to northern Canada-and some are even found in Alaska," says Stam Zervanos, retired professor of biology at Pennsylvania State University in Reading, who's conducted extensive research on groundhogs. What's more, groundhogs have an extensive range and can be found all over North America. "They are giant ground squirrels is what they are," says Richard Thorington, curator of mammals at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. Groundhogs ( Marmota monax) are a type of rodent known as a marmot, and marmots are closely related to squirrels. But what else is there to know about these annual celebrities? Here are some little-known facts. celebration in which people turn to these mammals to predict the weather: If the groundhog sees its shadow on that day, lore has it there will be six more weeks of winter. Held every year on February 2, Groundhog Day is a unique U.S. Groundhogs use their burrows to escape predators and for hibernation.Each year groundhogs enjoy 15 minutes of fame-and then most people proceed to forget about them completely. These holes are a hazard to cattle, people, and equipment. Their burrows are beneficial to other wildlife, offering escape cover, but draw the ire of farmers. They feel quite at home in a back yard or brushy, woodland edge. Groundhogs are the largest Pennsylvania member of the squirrel family, but still retain some of the agility of tree-dwelling squirrels.Īlthough we often associate groundhogs with their burrows and grassy meadows, they also have surprising flexibility when it comes to habitat and lifestyle. It is not uncommon to see them in bushes, on stumps, or even on fences. As members of the squirrel family, groundhogs have good balance and can climb and jump. While normal groundhogs, also known as woodchucks, lack the mystical power to predict the weather, they are still fascinating creatures. It’s pretty safe to assume you’re familiar with groundhogs, especially considering our famous one in the limelight every February. ![]()
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