Minnesota Seasons - woodchuck


woodchuck				More photos…
Marmota monax

Status	Common and widespread
Habitat	Forest edges and openings, open woodlands
Lifespan
Size	Head and body: 19¾″ to 23½″ Tail: 3¾″ to 5½″

Identification

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

Food

Life Cycle

Behavior

Range			Sources: 7, 13, 15.

Sightings	Buffalo River State Park Cottonwood River Prairie SNA Felton Prairie SNA Bicentennial Unit Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park			Maplewood State Park Minneopa State Park Myre-Big Island State Park Pembina Trail Preserve SNA Crookston Prairie Unit Upper Sioux Agency State Park Yellow Bank Hills SNA

Comments

Images
Burrow

Taxonomy	Order:	Rodentia (rodents)
	Suborder:	Sciuromorpha (squirrels)
	Family:	Sciuridae (chipmunks, marmots, squirrels)
	Subfamily:	Xerinae (marmots, ground squirrels, African squirrels, and relatives)
	Tribe:	Marmotini (ground squirrels)

Synonyms

Common Names	ground hog woodchuck