Groundhogs

Meet Alan & Mallory!

Common Name: Groundhog
Scientific Name: Marmota monax
We just call them: "Alan" & "Mallory"

Size: 41 cm (length)
Weight: ~ 3.9 kg
Lifespan: ~ 3 - 6 years (wild), 9 - 14 years (captivity)
Diet: Herbivore

ALAN & MALLORY'S STORY

Alan and Mallory came to us after humans intervened with their natural habitat and took Alan and Mallory from their parents at a very young age. This early experience caused a lot of stress and anxiety, resulting in Alan and Mallory over-grooming themselves. As their anxieties eased, their hair grew back fully. Groundhogs can be very difficult to identify their sex at such a young age, so even though their names are Alan and Mallory, they are both girls.

Did You Know?

Groundhogs build huge underground tunnels called burrows that they live in. These burrows can be up to 90 feet in length and will have multiple areas for different uses. For example, they will have certain areas for a "summer home" which is easily accessible, a "winter home" for when they go into hibernation, and a "bathroom" area for taking care of their business.
When building their homes, they can move up to 700 pounds of dirt! That sure is a lot of digging...
Although you will see them digging most of the time, they are also great climbers and are able to swim!
Groundhogs are the largest members of the squirrel family.