For example, Maine groundhogs hibernate for approximately days whereas those in South Carolina may only hibernate for 67 days. Toward the end of the hibernation period, males emerge first and will often join females in their burrows. This marks the beginning of mating season as males begin to explore mating options.
Mating does not occur until emergence in the spring. Yet, this preemptive activity helps groundhogs build bonds and establish territories in preparation of the upcoming season. Groundhogs do not eat during hibernation. They spend the fall months prior to hibernation feeding on protein-heavy, rich foods to build fat reserves. Groundhogs are herbivores and eat grasses, other plants, berries, grains, and nuts; however, they occasionally eat other foods such as insects e.
Their fat reserves must last them throughout the winter. Thus, fall is one period when your backyard is prone to attack from groundhogs, as well as spring when hungry groundhogs emerge from hibernation. Groundhogs may have evolved to hibernate due to their dietary needs. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. By Melissa Breyer. Melissa Breyer. She is a sustainability expert and author whose work has been published by the New York Times and National Geographic, among others.
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But this depends on the geographic locations. Groundhogs will hibernate less in higher temperature locations and climates, and hibernate more at lower temperature climates. For example, Maine groundhogs hibernate for days, whereas those in South Carolina may hibernate for only about 65 days. Although males emerge first, they usually seek out and join the females in their hibernating burrows. This is a way of preparing for the mating season, where males begin to see the possible mating options.
Mating starts in the early spring emergence. The males join the females towards the end of hibernation, to create a bond and also to build up their territories for the new season. This is not because of starvation, but this condition is related to their low body temperature or the overall nutritional health of the animal.
This also directly links to any disease groundhogs may have while in hibernation. This is because when an animal is already debilitated by illness, any further drop in the body temperature as can happen in winter may not be enough to provide the necessary energy for life support. However, most of the deaths due to illness during hibernation is experienced mainly by young groundhogs — and groundhogs that wake up late in the spring season which means they have less time to store up enough fat and weight they need for winter.
This day usually falls as a midpoint between spring and summer, which is exactly the period when groundhogs start arising from hibernation.
Although this day is celebrated around many parts of the world like the United States and Canada; Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania may be well known as holding the largest known celebration. This tradition has begun during the period when Germans first settled in Pennsylvania. Groundhogs also instinctively know when they need to come out of hibernation because of warmer weather which naturally triggers metabolism and appetite.
In winter groundhogs adapt to down-regulating their metabolism and appetite with the cold weather. Of course, neither Phil nor any other groundhog has weather-predicting powers.
It's a fun thought though, isn't it? Anyway, what will groundhogs not kept in captivity for the sake of odd secular holidays do if winter conditions persist into March? They chow down before the chill, building up body fat, then enter winter burrows, lower their heart rates, and stop nearly all movement to make it through the cold, fallow months.
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