Very similar in its bodily structure to the marmot, of which it is said
to be the nearest American relative, is the woodchuck or ground-hog
(_Arctomys monax_). It is about eighteen inches in length, including
the tail. The body is stout, the head broad and flat, the legs short
and thick, the fur blackish or grizzled on the upper portion and of a
chestnut red on the under surface of the body.
The ground-hog is found in all parts of the region extending from
the Atlantic coast west to the Missouri, Iowa, and Minnesota. It
inhabits woods, prairies, and meadows, lives on roots, vegetables, and
herbs, and is especially fond of red clover. Its burrows are large
excavations, and in the early autumn it busies itself in storing
provisions for its long winter retreat. It is said to be one of the
first hibernating animals to retire to winter quarters and one of the
earliest to come forth in the spring, the length of its retirement
varying with the locality, and being shorter in the south than in the
north. In the northern United States it usually retires about the
first of October and reappears about the middle of March. A recent
writer and close observer says that woodchucks hibernate in pairs,
but he never knew one of these proverbially sleepy creatures to leave
its hole until warm weather came--in spite of the alleged practice it
has of coming out invariably on the second day of February to fix the
weather for the rest of the winter. He took the trouble once to dig
into a woodchuck's burrow on a Candlemas day--and a warm, cloudy day
it was; just such a day as the ground-hog is said to choose to come
out of his hole and stay out. He found two woodchucks in the burrow,
with no more sign of life about them than if they had been shot. From
all outward appearances he could have taken them out and had a game of
football with them without their knowing it. When the animal begins
its hibernation it carefully closes the entrance to its burrow. Dr.
Bachmann, who had marked a burrow to which he knew a pair of woodchucks
had retired, caused it to be opened early in November, and found the
two animals, perfectly dormant, lying coiled up close together in a
nest of dry grass, twenty-five feet from the entrance.
The young woodchucks, of which there are from four to six in a litter,
are born about the end of April. The mother takes tender care of them
until they are able to shift for themselves.
The woodchuck, when taken young, is easily tamed, and becomes an
interesting pet. The little animal can be taught to come when called,
to run for food when whistled to, and to answer to a name. One called
Chuck was very fond of bread spread with butter and sugar. If plain
bread were offered to him he would taste it, make a wry face, spit
out the bit in his mouth, and throw away the piece he held, and then
he would straighten himself up and hold out his shining black hands
for bread _with sugar_ on it. He always sat up stiffly on his hind
legs when eating, and it was a comical sight to see him holding a long
banana in his arms, until he had eaten the whole of it, blinking his
bright black eyes with satisfaction. Chuck was taught many tricks, to
balance a stick on his nose, swing in a trapeze, draw a toy cart, and
the like. He was very affectionate and tractable.
Early in September Chuck began to eat voraciously and soon became very
fat, but in the first week in October his appetite failed; he ate at
first once a day, then once in two days, and after awhile he became
quite restless and stupid. He was given his liberty, and watched
closely to learn his habits. He began gnawing grass, gathering dry
leaves and tucking them in various corners. At length he found a place
that suited him to dig, and then he began making his nest. When the
excavation was complete Chuck disappeared for several days. One evening
he tapped on the kitchen door. When the door was opened he ran to a
basket of apples and ate one, then ate a slice of bread and sugar. He
appeared crazy with haste, and as soon as he was through eating he
scampered off, to be gone a long time. On the first day of February
Chuck crept out of his hole, and sat for a moment in the sun. Before
he could be reached, however, he had returned to it. In six weeks and
three days he again came out, and what was surprising, he did not
appear to have forgotten any of his friends, of whom he had many among
the cats, dogs, and rabbits of the neighborhood, trotting about among
them on his hind legs. A cruel boy and a savage dog ended the life of
this harmless little animal.
C. C. M.