West Brighton on Staten Island in Richmond County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Woodchuck, a.k.a. Groundhog
Marmota monax
Habitat: Brush land, forest fringe, rocky slopes, and clearings
Range: Eastern and northern North America
Status: Least concern
Sleeping Beauty
These mid-size rodents are burrowing animals with thick, strong legs and sturdy claws. Caring for their young, eating and sunning make up the typical lifestyle of woodchucks while not hibernating.
Come October, after feasting and fattening itself in preparation for the long winter, a groundhog falls asleep in its underground burrow for the next five months.
Early Spring or Longer Witner?
February 2nd is Groundhog Day in both United States and Canada. Folklore has it that the groundhog will come out of hibernation on this day, which is the midpoint of winter, to predict an early spring or six more weeks of winter.
It is said that if a groundhog sees its shadow, it will run back into its burrow, to fall asleep again for another six weeks of winter. If it does not see its shadow the prediction is for an early spring.
Did you know Woodchucks…
• have white incisors, as opposed to the yellowish-brown color that most rodents have?
• can give a loud whistle (and are sometimes called "whistle pigs"), chatter their teeth, hiss, squeal and growl?
• abandoned burrows are used by rabbits, opossums, raccoons, skunks and foxes?
Click or scan to see
this page online
• are most threatened by red foxes and automobiles?
• Staten Island Chuck's prediction rate is about 75% correct?
Erected by Staten Island Zoological Society.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Anthropology & Archaeology. A significant day of the year for for this entry is February 2.
Location. 40° 37.488′ N, 74° 6.955′ W. Marker is on Staten Island, New York, in Richmond County. It is in West Brighton. Marker can be reached from Clove Road west of Glenwood Place, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 650 Broadway, Staten Island NY 10310, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Powered by the Sun (here, next to this marker); Ducks (within shouting distance of this marker); North American River Otters (within shouting distance of this marker); Cape Barren Goose (within shouting distance of this marker); Vietnamese Pot Bellied Pig (within shouting distance of this marker); Mangalitsa Pig (within shouting distance of this marker); Vanishing Cats (within shouting distance of this marker); Australia (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Staten Island.
Credits. This page was last revised on January 31, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 15, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 68 times since then and 5 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 15, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
