The Real Groundhog Day

The den site has yielded yet another mammal species and trail camera first for T.A. grounds. Last Friday afternoon, a no doubt groggy woodchuck (AKA groundhog) was observed freshening up the entrance to the den. Woodchuck emergence is a sure sign of spring on the landscape here in Maine. These are one of the state's only true hibernators. Most woodchucks sleep from late September or early October all the way through to March. Their body temperatures, heart rate, and breathing drop to amazingly low levels. As mentioned earlier in this blog, a hibernating woodchuck physically cannot wake up, meaning that our manmade "Groundhog Day" is completely staged. We very well may have just witnessed the real groundhog day in the T.A. Forest and while its shadow is visible on the ground in the video, it doesn't look like it notices.

Watch as this woodchuck emerges from the den then stands to watch for danger.

I was pretty sure that this den had been originally excavated by a woodchuck but was unaware that it was still being used by one. Woodchucks create elaborate underground dens with tunnels traveling more than 20ft. They almost always have at least one other entrance for emergency escapes. Woodchucks will use multiple den sites throughout the season as food sources fluctuate. This individual could have spent the entire winter in this den or may just be checking after emerging from another site nearby. Being a diurnal creature (active during the day), it also provided us with some color photos and video for a change.