Woodchuck - Species Profile
Conservation • Description • Habitat • Ecology • Distribution • Taxonomy
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List
LC - Least Concern
NatureServe
N5 - Secure
SNR - Unranked
Minnesota
not listed
Description
Size
Head and body: 19¾″ to 23½″
Tail: 3¾″ to 5½″
Sign
The entrance to a woodchuck den is usually 5¼″ to 6¼″ in diameter but may be larger. There is a mound of dirt outside the hole. If the hole is occupied the dirt on top of the mound will be fresh.
Similar Species
Habitat
Forest edges and openings, open woodlands
Ecology
Behavior
Lifespan
2 to 6 years
Life Cycle
Food
Distribution |
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Sources Biodiversity occurrence data published by: Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas (accessed through the Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Portal, bellatlas.umn.edu, 12/20/2025). Timm, R. M. 1975. Distribution, natural history, and parasites of mammals of Cook County, Minnesota. Occasional Papers, Bell Museum of Natural History, University of Minnesota 14:1–56. Hazard, Evan B. 1982. The Mammals of Minnesota. University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis, Minnesota. 280 pp. The counties in light green lack modern records but have historic county or township specimens or records. |
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| 12/20/2025 | ||
Canada Woodchuck (M. m. canadensis) is found in north-central and northeast Minnesota. Rufescent Woodchuck (M. m. rufescens) is found in the remainder of the state. Southern Woodchuck (M. m. monax) may be found in the counties along the southern border. |
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Occurrence |
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Common and widespread |
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Taxonomy
Class
Subclass
Theria
Infraclass
Placentalia (Placental Mammals)
Magnorder
Boreoeutheria
Superorder
Euarchontoglires (Primates, Rodents, and Allies)
Order
Rodentia (Rodents)
Suborder
Sciuromorpha (Squirrels, Dormice, and Mountain Beavers)
Family
Sciuridae (Squirrels)
Subfamily
Xerinae (Ground and African Tree Squirrels)
Tribe
Marmotini (Holarctic Ground Squirrels)
Genus
Marmota (Marmots)
Subgenus
Marmota (Palearctic Marmots and Groundhogs)
Subordinate Taxa
British Columbia Woodchuck (Marmota monax petrensis)
Canada Woodchuck (Marmota monax canadensis) 
Kansas Marmot (Marmota monax bunkeri)
Labrador Woodchuck (Marmota monax ignava)
New England Woodchuck (Marmota monax preblorum)
Ochraceous Woodchuck (Marmota monax ochracea)
Rufescent Woodchuck (Marmota monax rufescens)
Southern Woodchuck (Marmota monax monax) (?)
Woodchuck (Marmota monax johnsoni)
Woodchuck (Marmota monax melanopus)
Synonyms
Arctomys ignavus
Arctomys melanopus
Arctomys monax
Arctomys sibila
Glis canadensis
Hyrax hudsonius
Lipura hudsonia
Marmota ochracea
Marmotops monax
Mus empetra
Mus monax
Common Names
Ground Hog
Woodchuck
