Marmota monax

Grizzled brown, sometimes reddish to blackish pelage, with dark feet and a short bushy tail; short legs; small ears. Total length to 82 cm.

Short tail, 20-25% of body length (25% or greater in other marmots); head without white markings, except around nose, that are present in other marmots; sides of neck are concolorous with upperparts (buffy in M. FLAVIVENTRIS); forelegs overlaid with deep reddish brown hairs; feet blackish brown; upper tooth rows are parallel (diverging in other marmots) (Kwiecinski 1998).

Woodchucks live in open habitats (meadows, pastures, old fields, orchards) that often border wooded areas, which may be used for hibernation (Caire et al. 1989, Kwiecinski 1998). In Connecticut, burrow systems were often along woodland edges and brushy fence rows (Swihart 1992). Young are born in a den in an extensive burrow system.

Densities are highly variable, ranging from 0.1/hectare in Quebec to 3.3./hectare in Ohio (Kwiecinski 1998).

Primarily solitary, except during breeding, though limited social interaction may occur at other times.

Abandoned burrows are widely used as den sites by other animals (Kwiecinski 1998).

Woodchucks lose about 33-40% of their body mass during hibernation. Most of the loss occurs when they arouse and warm up every week or two.

Mating takes place right after emergence from hibernation, often early March to mid-April. Gestation lasts 31-32 days. Young are born from April to mid-May. Juveniles, about a month old, emerge from burrows in spring, and activity ends in fall, the exact timing varying with location (shorter active season in the north than in the south). Reproductive females produce a single litter of 2-6 (average 4) each year. Individuals become sexually mature in one year.