6/20/2016
Groundhog
Marmota monax
Fields Pond Center, Holden, Maine
Photos by Richard Spinney
Also known as woodchucks, groundhogs have strong, short limbs made for digging. They live in underground holes and are never far from home. This one is lucky to have found a home at a popular nature center. Groundhogs have a short life expectancy in the wild (2 to 3 years average). They are food for coyote, fox, bobcats, eagles, and dogs. Their number one predator is humans, who may not like to see their home-grown vegetables eaten by a freeloader.
Groundhog
Marmota monax
Fields Pond Center, Holden, Maine
Photos by Richard Spinney
Also known as woodchucks, groundhogs have strong, short limbs made for digging. They live in underground holes and are never far from home. This one is lucky to have found a home at a popular nature center. Groundhogs have a short life expectancy in the wild (2 to 3 years average). They are food for coyote, fox, bobcats, eagles, and dogs. Their number one predator is humans, who may not like to see their home-grown vegetables eaten by a freeloader.