Gardens
Groundhog Vs. Woodchuck | New England Lexicon
Groundhog vs. Woodchuck: What’s the difference between the two animals? Is there any difference? We decided to find out.
By Yankee Magazine|Jan 29 2021|
Coffee By Design | Portland, Maine
Photo Credit : Katherine KeenanGroundhog Vs. Woodchuck | What’s the Difference?
So what IS the difference between a groundhog and a woodchuck? Taxonomically, there is none; both names refer to a burrowing rodent of the marmot family, Marmota monax. In New England, however — where residents can count on at least six more weeks of winter after February 2, no matter what some groundhog in Punxsutawney, thinks — the term woodchuck has always held sway. First recorded in 1674, the word is simply an English pronunciation of the animal’s Algonquin name, wejack or wuchak. “Woodchuck” also serves as a nickname for any native-born resident of a backwoods area, although caution is advised in applying it to people whom one does not know well. What do you call it? Excerpt from “The New England Sampler,” Yankee Magazine, February 1996. This post was first published in 2014 and has been updated.More New England Lexicon: Jimmies Nantucket Sleigh Ride Scrod Charlie on the MTA
I have also heard of them being called Whistle-Pigs and Land Beavers they do make an awfully funny whistling noise.
How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood. One of my favorites from childhood. I’ve never heard an equivalent phrase using the word grounding,, so woodchuck wins for me! I also like the Native American origins of the word.
About the same as a groundhog could hog if a groundhog could hog ground
What about a prairie dog?
P.D.’s are the same family, all ground squirrels. Prairie Dogs are about the size of a really big Grey squirrel, Gophers are about half that, while Whistle pigs are they really overweight and nasty cousin in the family. They can have a temper even tho they are usually shy. I wouldn’t want a small dog playing around a W.C. den especially in April May. A momma with babies could do a number on a yappy terrier with those claws. They are ready rodents, and carry diseases. You guys who think they are cute, probably don’t have any kinda livestock or garden either. At least they are not prairie dogs with have caused more leg injuries to animals honestly probably anything else on earth, all while still carrying the Bubonic Plague. All animals are beautiful to look at, but they need to be controlled.
Here in New Hampshire we call them woodchucks but because I think the word “gopher” is so cute that’s what I call them. I have what I call my pet that lives in my stone wall and he is so cute when he suns himself on the top of a flat stone as part of the wall. He may have gotten into my garden a couple times but I don’t care. I adore him and he is so cute. This year I also have another one that lives under our barn and also one huge one that lives in a wood pile in a meadow. Since I no longer have horses I don’t have to worry about them hurting anything.
Down here among the Blue Ridge the term woodchuck refers to men who cut fireplace wood and haul it to the city.
I learned that saying when I was about 5 years old living in Lancaaster, NH! They do make funny noises.
How much wood can a woodchuck chuck, if a woodchuck could chuck wood? He’d chuck all the wood that a woodchuck could, if a woodchuck could chuck wood! LOL!!!
have a huge one in my back yard here in CT, been here for at least 5 or 6 years… cannot get rid of it… does not do much harm except eating plants and veggies….and driving the dogs crazy
While they are cute, can’t say I’m a fan. I know someone with a farm who complained that the burrows and holes they make are so big and deep that her cow could break a leg in it. I had one in my backyard once. My dogs chased it and it ran up into a tree. Needless to say it was cranky at this point. I removed the dogs, but then it wouldn’t come down. I couldn’t leave my dogs in the house forever, so I called animal control. The gentleman who answered the phone told me that groundhogs don’t climb trees. I informed him that I had been to Punxsutawney and knew what a woodchuck/groundhog was! He refused to come. Finally and fortunately the bugger finally left. Amen!
They most certainly can climb trees, although we mostly see them on the ground. They also are good swimmers.
as much wood as a woodchuck would chuck, if a woodchuck would chuck wood
We read these comments while sitting in the hospital with a critically ill relative, and it was a bright spot in a dark day – thanks!
Woodchuck, groundhog, marmot–those guys are all the same. Here in Colorado we call them yellow bellied marmots. No matter–Phil is still the guy on Feb. 2.
Chuck it all out!
One of my greatest pleasures in life is watching a woodchuck waddle across the lawn.
LOL That is so true! This article made me think of one that I watched from the kitchen window the other day. He waddled halfway across the yard, turned and waddled back the way he came. Figured maybe he smelled our dogs. My wife wants them gone. I think they’re cute! (and I WILL win on this front!)
Well good luck to you then. They may be cute, but they are extremely destructive animals. They can easily destroy concrete patios, decks, even footings for a house by burrowing a massive 6′ deep trench below it. Then comes the destruction or just plain devouring and entire garden in short work. You like em, then you can come get mine. Til then I gotta say 1 of my greatest pleasures is watching 1 roll after the pop of a .22. I do give mine treats sometimes tho, they absolutely LOVE bubble gum! No joke!
Woodchuck. Cute, in their place, which is NOT under my porch!!
I had a family living under my deck a couple of years. It got very crowded on my deck as they summed themselves. We were on peaceful terms until one didn’t approve of me on my deck whilst this particular one was sunning-he came after me! That was the end of my patience. Did all I could to say ‘adieu’ to my pesky neighbor. Then one year some other animal got into a huge ruckus with them, it was a violent battle and I could smell the wounds were ‘life threatening’, so to speak. That was the end of the story-except I DID get my deck back as a result!!
My husband loves a young groundhog, he eats alone.
Hahah that’s a great comment Peggy! Can’t say I blame you. I love wild game more than store bought, but these are rodents people. Yea ground squirrels, and squirrels are great, but they are more giant rat than squirrel. Think about it before you next Whistle Pig roast, their cousin, the Prairie dog VERY COMMONLY, has Black death, ie BUBONIC PLAGUE wipe out whole towns ( Prairie dog towns that is), but these are a lot closer New York giant rat than top choice sirloin. But hey, you do you!
Here in eastern New York state we call them woodchucks. Have been eating them since my teens. If you cook them right, they are quite good.
Woodchucks, Groundhogs, Gophers or Whistle Pigs are what I’ve heard them called here in NH. Whatever you call them, although they can be a nuisance, they are really cute!
Enjoyed all the messages, I have one to “Share “. While visiting one year in Upstate New York from Calif,. We had brought our young Chihuahua -Terrier mix pup. He wandered off from my parents home to the Neighbors cornfield behind the house. He responded when called to us back home to the same whistle that Woodchucks make. She was almost exausted when we finally made eye contact at the back of this acre+/- field of Corn. She had been running trying to find out where we were at. Those Woodchucks warning kept her busy for over an hour.
They whistle as a warning to their young ones when danger (me) approaches.
I call it a groundhog and a pain in my butt. In the past it has burrowed into my garden and eaten two whole row of lettuce in one night.
Gophers, marmots (in the West) — those are different things. The woodchuck/groundhog is the Eastern type of marmot, but they are all separate species. I hope that was clear.
Here in NH last year, true story btw, the military seriously had to put a contract out on Woodchucks to get them under control on a military base in Concord. They paid almost $3K to a company to come in and trap and kill as many as possible because the Blue Lupine butterfly which is endangered, are getting wiped out by Woodchucks. Not only are you he Woodchucks eating the butterfly/caterpillar essential habitat, but they are also eating tons of the butterfly, or mostly caterpillars. Now if you have a United States Air Force Commander putting a hit out Woodchucks to protect a butterfly, then either Woodchucks are WAY more destructive than most people realize, or with no war, the military has entirely way too much free time! Honestly tho, I am glad to see the Government actually noticing and doing something to help an endangered insect. The Government doesn’t have the best track record in that area, so kudos to them