Most groundhogs live about three years in the wild, but can survive up to six years on average. They will mature into multi-talented creatures, capable of climbing trees, swimming, and burrowing underground.

1. Depending on where you live, you might not see many groundhogs aside from the
one in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania who seems to appear each February 2nd.
However, this animal—marmot monax, in binominal terms—is actually common
throughout lowland areas of North America, in particular the northeastern United
States and Canada.
Physical Characteristics
A typical full-grown groundhog, sometimes called a woodchuck, weighs between
four and nine pounds and measures between 16 and 26 inches in length, nose to
tail. In areas rich in alfalfa and with few natural predators, groundhogs can grow
approximately six inches more in length, but also weigh up to 31 pounds! A
groundhog’s coat is comprised of two layers: a gray undercoat, plus a longer outer
coat of guard hairs which gives the animal the appearance of being flecked with
frost.

2. Typical Behaviors
Most groundhogs live about three years in the wild, but can survive up to six years
on average. They will mature into multi-talented creatures, capable of climbing
trees, swimming, and burrowing underground. The groundhog is known to stand
alert, motionless, watching for predators. They use a high-pitched whistling noise
(earning the common moniker “whistle-pig”) to alert the colony if danger is spotted.
Groundhogs are primarily herbivorous, subsisting on wild grass and berries. They can
be aggressive toward people as a matter of self-defense, and are inclined to feast on
human-grown gardens and crops. The groundhog also hibernates during the winter,
one of few species to enter into true hibernation, usually in a specific burrow for this
very purpose. To learn more about humane animal removal in Raleigh, please visit
this website www.trianglewildliferemoval.com/wild-animals