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Woodchuck (Marmota monax)

Woodchuck in Black Oak | Stillwater, MN | View Enlarged Photo

Rodent Weatherman

What happens when you cross a Roman Catholic holiday with Native American folklore? The first Woodchuck weather forecaster. Candlemas was a major holiday for Germans who immigrated into the Delaware region. Believed to extend from the Pagan holiday Imbolc, a celebration of the longer days of midwinter. As candles, blessed by priests, were distributed through parishes †, humans looked for hope that relief from the cold and snow would soon be on its way.

The easiest way to "predict" the weather in the days before satellites and doppler radar was to tap into animal behavior --in this case hibernation. German folklore held that the Badger would make the first excursions from its den around February 2. If it went right back into hibernation after seeing its shadow, it meant a longer winter. If it emerged for the day, it meant an early Spring.

These imported European traditions were forever shaped by the Delaware Tribe, who held a special respect for the Woodchuck (the name "Woodchuck", in fact, is a bastardized version of "Wojak"; a legendary Groundhog in Delaware mythology). On February 2, 1886, the Badger was formally replaced by "Punxsutawny Phil", the first Woodchuck weatherman. Phil (and his descendants) and his hometown, Punxsutawny, Pennsylvania, have become the epicenter of the America's annual Groundhog's Day festivities, drawing crowds by the tens of thousands.

Woodies are almost purely vegetarian. In the wild, they will eat grasses, flowers, leaves, berries, and fruit. Unfortunately, with the encroachment of farms and suburbs, Wood Chuck have found their way into farmer's fields and vegetable gardens. While this behavior is often seen as destructive, we need to remember that wild animals have no idea that we think that the crops are our private property. To them, a tomato or an ear of corn is just a source of food.

As you may have seen below, dogs are one of the Wood Chuck's top suburban predators. While we often see our dogs and cats as an extension of nature, they are really a non-native species that we have introduced into this area. We feed them, house them, and give them medical attention. Having them compete for food and territory against local species is kind of like sending a Navy Seals battalion into a neighborhood snowball fight. The Sierra Club, the National Wildlife Federation, and even the Minnesota DNR urge you to please keep your pets either supervised on a leash or indoors.

With their buck teeth, stocky build, and waddling gait, Woodchucks are almost impossible to mistake for any other animal. They are rodents, closely related to the squirrel. Though they may appear tubby and somewhat awkward, they're actually master burrowers. Their burrows, usually excavated in a day or two, are two room affairs (a den and a dead end where droppings are stored), with two entrances.

Like the Prairie Dog, Woodchucks (and their burrows) play an important role in maintaining the ecosystems they share. As they build their underground burrows on hilly ground at the forest verge, they move (and aerate) over 500 lbs of soil, aiding plant growth. Abandoned woodie homes also make prime real estate for other species, including rabbits, skunks, weasels and possum.

Woodies are almost purely vegetarian. In the wild, they will eat grasses, flowers, leaves, berries, and fruit. Unfortunately, with the encroachment of farms and suburbs, Wood Chuck have found their way into farmer's fields and vegetable gardens. While this behavior is often seen as destructive, we need to remember that wild animals have no idea that we think that the crops are our private property. To them, a tomato or an ear of corn is just a source of food.

Dogs are one of the Wood Chuck's top suburban predators. While we often see our dogs and cats as an extension of nature, they are really a non-native species that we have introduced into this area. We feed them, house them, and give them medical attention. Having them compete for food and territory against local species is like calling an air strike into a neighborhood snowball fight. The Sierra Club, the National Wildlife Federation, and even the Minnesota DNR urge you to please keep your pets either supervised on a leash or indoors.

Multimedia:

Woodchuck digging in Oak | Stillwater, MN Woodchuck; side profile | Stillwater, MN

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