Minnesota Seasons - Woodchuck

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
		Sources 6, 7, 24, 29, 30. 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.
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.

Occurrence
Common and widespread

Taxonomy

Class

Mammalia (Mammals)

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

Visitor Photos

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Luciearl
I've known a woodchuck lived on our hill for years. Never got a close up look until today. A couple of the dogs had cornered it under the steps. It was more like a chortling sound, not sounding like squirrel or chipmunk. After getting the dogs in the house, found the woodchuck in a pine near our porch.

Christa Rittberg

MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos

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Woodchucks
Andree Reno Sanborn

About

Marmota monax (Woodchuck)
Allen Chartier

slideshow

Visitor Videos

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Leah Starks

Marmota monax (Woodchuck/Groundhog)
Feb 3, 2023

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Visitor Sightings

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Luciearl
8/3/2023

Location: Lake Shore

I've known a woodchuck lived on our hill for years. Never got a close up look until today. A couple of the dogs had cornered it under the steps. It was more like a chortling sound, not sounding like squirrel or chipmunk. After getting the dogs in the house, found the woodchuck in a pine near our porch.

WOODCHUCK
5/30/2019

Location: ONAMIA, MINNESOTA

I HAVE A MAMA WOODCHUCK UNDER MY SHED SHE HAD 8 BABIES...I JUST LOVE THEM, THEY ARE DOING EXCEPTIONALLY WELL...MY NEIGHBOR IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT BAITED AND TRAPPED THEM...THEY WERE NO BOTHER TO HIM...THEY ENDED UP AT THE DNR JUST A BLOCK AWAY...I WENT AND IDENTIFIED THEM..THEY KNOW ME WELL...I CALL THEM HEDGYZ AND THEY KNOW THEIR NAME...I WENT TO THE DNR AND CALLED FOR THEM...ONE CAME OUT OF HIDING...NOW TONGHT THE MAMA IS BACK...I AM SO HAPPY I HOPE SHE BRINGS THE BABIES BACK...WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS...

Brooklyn Middle School
12/13/2018

Location: Shingle Creek on nonble

Jennifer Shinners
11/28/2017

Location: Eden Prairie

2 in one of our little run off ponds in the backyard.