Groundhogs—Wonder Wedneday

Wonder WednesdayTOPO Land

Feb 2

It's WONDER Wednesday! And it's also Groundhog Day!

This week's WONDER is the curious rodent who makes predictions about spring's arrival.

Punxsutawney Phil (Pennsylvania) has already made his prediction: six more weeks of winter. In these parts, we know we can safely double his guess!
But we're holding out for Michigan's own official state groundhog (Woody), who lives at the Howell Nature Center. Woody's predictions are 76% accurate. She was poised to make her pronouncement today but due to a big storm system hitting Southern Michigan, her dispatch has been rescheduled to Saturday, February 5.

HERE ARE SOME FUN FACTS ABOUT PHILL AND WOODY’S SPECIES:

Groundhogs, also known as woodchucks and whistlepigs, hail from the Marmot family and are in fact large ground squirrels.
Adults grow up to 15 pounds. Babies are called kits or chucklings (how cute is that?!??)
Groundhogs are among the few true hibernators, typically emerging in February, when they begin munching on grubs, insects and snails. These omnivores also enjoy a snack from your garden!