Groundhogs also run by the name of Michigan woodchuck or whistle pig. It's a rodent like ground squirrel also known as marmots. It's a ground creature i.e. it prefers lowlands. Mostly found in North America and central US and Canada, they can also be found in northern areas where they adapt to the cold habitat.



The Michigan groundhog is largest of its kind mostly measuring 40-65 cm. They can weigh from 2 up to 4kgs. In some areas they can even grow up to 80 cm and weigh 14 kilos. They have a small and petite build. They are short but strong at the same time. They have very sharp and thick nails. They have a curved spine and shorter tail in compare to other sciurid. They are most adaptable to their habitat due their two qualities of furs. One is a thick grey colored coat and the other is longer coat of guard hairs. This gives a distinctive look to the Lansing groundhog that makes it stand out from all the others.

They are a liberal lot and like to live in open spaces and wooded areas. They like to stay near their burrows in case they need to get back due some external cause. Their most suitable habitat includes forests. They have a great reproductive system and are good at creating their own kind in very less time. The name Lansing whistle pig caught on due to its ability to whistle and alert the others of its kind if sense any danger. They are great swimmers and can climb trees as well.

They are majorly vegetarians. These herbivorous creatures feast on grass, berries, agricultural crops, fruits and vegetables. Their diet also includes maggots, soil insects like grasshoppers and snails. They can also eat nuts but they do not store food unlike other lowland creatures. Lansing groundhogs can also build burrows for the purpose of reproducing, resting, sleeping and hibernating. They are solitary lovers but they can occupy the same burrows. These burrows may have 3-5 entrances in case they need to flee from a predator. They build large burrows and sometimes cause large scale damage to agricultural or residential areas. They can build long burrows sometimes reaching up to 24 feet. The burrow mainly consists of a main entrance, muck, a spy hole and a nest.

Talking of burrows, Michigan groundhogs sometimes build special winter burrows for the exclusive purpose of hibernating. Their hibernation most probably starts in October and ends in March. They try to gain as much weight as possible before hibernating in order to survive the freezing weather. After returning from hibernation, mostly in spring, they start their search for food. They are mostly daytime Lansing creatures working mainly early in the mornings.

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