why are woodchucks called woodchucks

'Woodchuck Day', a variant of 'Groundhog Day', was celebrated in the 1860s. Getting a wildlife control professional to help could cost about $400 per groundhog! The recipe from Joy of Cooking (link provided by the OP), 1962, has the following ingredients: 1 cup condensed tomato soup Unfortunately, the OED has no information about the recipe version of woodchuck. The name whistle-pig comes from the fact that, when alarmed, a groundhog will emit a high-pitched whistle as a warning to the rest of his or her colony. Another that claimed woodchuck is better than veal. Perhaps it is intentional: the few people who mention woodchucks rarely mention sardines. Woodchuck Diet: Omnivorous, these animals lean toward more vegetation and less toward meat, though a hungry woodchuck will eat worms, insects, and amphibians. Crop fields are the ideal place for burrows. Nearby crops such as corn, legumes, and alfalfa are considered prime food sources for a woodchuck. In Cree, woodchucks were called “otchek.” In Ojibwe , they were referred to as “otchig,” and in Algonquian they were called “wuchak.” When English settlers first arrived, they used these native words and based them off familiar-sounding words from their own language, hence how the word woodchuck was born. Can I still use film after the film door accidentally opened? The Groundhog also called a Woodchuck or Whistlepig, is a member of the rodent family Sciuridae, They belong to the group of large ground squirrels known as marmots.Most marmots live in rocky and mountainous areas, but the Woodchuck is a creature of the lowlands. Found inside – Page 5MARMOTS AND WOODCHUCKS Marmots are chubby ground squirrels whose calls have earned them the nicknames " whistler " and " whistle pig . Groundhogs, also called woodchucks and whistle pigs, are one of the easiest Dig Defence Animal Control Commercial The OED lists Scottish rabbit3 as a dish related to Welsh rabbit/rarebit, and one of its attestations mentions "English" and "Irish" versions of the dish as well, so there is some precedent for such a variation. animals for us to humanely get rid of in most cases. Woodchucks have been seen keeping their bodies as flat as they could on top of a rock in the sun in order to better warm their bodies. rev 2021.9.23.40291. Their torpor can vary start, stop and duration times, depending where they are at in the U.S., but males usually end hibernation before the females and young do. A leading-edge research firm focused on digital transformation. Groundhogs are also called woodchucks, whistle pigs, and land beavers. be helpful. Yes, it's a play on words. Why can't Mathematica solve this definite integral? Many garden supply stores sell various castor oil sprays to repel groundhogs. They are the largest of the squirrel family. totally destroy the den, including the walls, forcing the animal to move on. Young woodchucks like the one seen in the photo below often occupy abandoned burrows. Welsh rabbit may therefore have started life as a dish resorted to when meat was not available. Baby groundhogs are called "pups", "kits" or sometimes "cubs". Even worse, groundhogs have been known to carry rabies, which can make them even more aggressive and dangerous. As seen in the photo below, it is common to see one or more standing erect on their rear legs standing guard, looking for danger. Getting Rid of Groundhogs. kill them in their dens. groundhog den is that it can be an incredible amount of work without a backhoe. Perhaps emigrants from the British isles saw a physical similarity between the North American Marmot, the woodchuck, and its European counterpart, the humble rabbit. Maybe that’s why woodchucks are called groundhogs; they taste like hog. Can anyone provide a more definitive answer about the etymology of the name woodchuck(s) or some variation thereof for a hard-boiled-eggs-in-sauce dish? A mother groundhog may have up to 10 babies, but 3 to 6 is the most common litter size. Special uses 2. Read and find out in the proven winner Animals in Winter! This is a Level 1 Let's-Read-and-Find-Out, which means the book explores introductory concepts perfect for children in the primary grades. One time I saw a groundhog hustle across a muddy bike trail and do a hybrid Superman dive/belly flop into the underbrush. Found inside – Page 200Evidence of infection was not found in woodchucks < 3 months old . ... Both occur on M. flaviventris , but little is known about marmot susceptibility to ... Keeping woodchucks from returning to abandoned burrows. Groundhogs and woodchucks are often mistaken for two different animals, but what people may not realize is that they are actually the same rodent. Thanks for contributing an answer to English Language & Usage Stack Exchange! "Woodchucks are large, heavy-bodied rodents attaining weights of 5-12 pounds and can be up to 2 feet long. This explains why the popular tongue twister “How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a … Live cage trapping groundhogs and relocating woodchucks is popular, Woodchucks breed around March and April Found inside – Page 100Woodchucks (Marmota monax) 684. Is there another name for the woodchuck? Yes, in some regions it is called a groundhog, whistle pig or lowland marmot. 685. Snares are not typically used on whistle pigs because of the resulting tug-of-war placed 4-5" (10 to 13 cm) above the ground, has deterred woodchucks from entering gardens. Thomas reasoned that if a woodchuck could chuck wood, he would chuck an amount equivalent to the weight of the dirt, or 700 pounds. Many garden supply stores sell various castor oil sprays to repel groundhogs. Or chucking. The meat tastes more like squirrel or rabbit than anything else – they are all rodents, after all. There is no evidence of the independent use of a simplex rarebit , except later as a shortening of this compound (see rarebit n.). 4 I am aware that rabbits aren't actually rodents; however, if this label does date from the early twentieth century, it is likely that whoever chose it would not have made that distinction. Why are woodchucks called woodchucks if they don’t chuck wood? Castor oil is another smell groundhogs hate. The name woodchuck has nothing to do with wood. In the wild, where groundhogs belong, they can live up to 2-6 years, whereas in captivity, groundhogs have lived 9-14 years. And then of course there are all the other rabbits that have followed in the wake of the Welsh: buck rabbit is the best known (Welsh rabbit with a poached egg on top), but there are also American rabbit (with whisked egg whites), English rabbit (with red wine), Irish rabbit (with onions, gherkins, vinegar, and herbs), and Yorkshire rabbit (topped with bacon and a poached egg). @Josh I don't think those are actually related. Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers. It has a tail that is about 5 inches long. And woodchucks often conceal their entrance hole by placing it under a building. The first clue I found for the name's origin is in Yankee Magazine's New England Today. Groundhog or Woodchuck — Facts, Photos and Control. Note, the addition of poached eggs. Scotch Woodcock which is nice either 2 egg yolks And a fence won't keep them out either because they could just burrow underneath it or climb over. chopped up mixed with a few teaspoonfuls of good anchovy sauce and A 1964 edition of The Joy of Cooking (paperback) has Welsh rarebit recipes (2) and "tomato rarebit or woodchuck" (also 2 recipes). Found inside – Page 9In some regions, they are prolific and can average one woodchuck per 4000 people.9 ... and Denali National Park and Reserve in Alaska, to name just a few! Worst comes to worst, you definitely don't want to try and handle them on your own since some groundhogs can be pretty aggressive animals. Copy. Operators (NWCOs) report destroying a groundhog denning area and having the animal make another 20' away from the destroyed tunnels, but they have also admitted to not being positive that they destroyed the entire system. Found inside – Page 164Groundhogs have short, powerful claws, curved backs, and short tails about one-fourth of their length. ... Groundhogs are also called woodchucks. Male groundhogs may travel for long distances in search of a mate. They actually get their name from the Algonquin tribe of Native Americans, who originally called them “wuchak.” English settlers, in trying to use that word, likely came up with the name “woodchuck.” Depending on where you are in the country, woodchucks are also known as groundhogs, land beavers, and whistling pigs. 1 teaspoon dry mustard Fortunately, there are several non-lethal ways to deter these animals. Woodchucks are burrowing members of the squirrel family, which includes tree squirrels, flying squirrels, and chipmunks. They are also the largest member of the squirrel family. That's about one groundhog for every 45 humans. 1/8 teaspoon white pepper A groundhog by any other name. we have not failed to remedy a groundhog challenge yet to date. See Wikipedia. I even found a video from someone called The Wooded Beardman who swears fried groundhog skin is better than pork rinds. They can become quite destructive to properties as they feed on vegetable gardens, lawns, plants and other landscaping. (Common variations include the addition of various herbs, vegetables, and/or tomato soup, and serving over various forms of noodles or bread.) Found inside – Page 61Did you know that groundhogs are also called woodchucks? Groundhogs are rodents, just like rats, mice, and hamsters. Groundhogs eat lots of plants. How do you remove groundhogs and control for them in the future? Another that said woodchuck is better than veal. The name woodchuck has nothing to do with wood. They have brown fur which may range from light to dark brown with a round body and bushy tail. How much wood would a woodchuck chuck (sometimes phrased with "could" rather than "would") is an American English-language tongue-twister. See Answer. Being so large for a rodent, many people want to know, are groundhogs dangerous? They're actually anything but. Why are woodchucks called woodchucks if they don’t chuck wood? Will groundhogs kill each other? Of these various nicknames, whistle-pig is by far the most interesting and … Woodchucks are one of the few animals in our region that has true hibernation like a bear. Groundhogs mostly eat vegetation, grubs and insects and get their water mainly through plants rather than water sources. to pull them back out of their den once in a snare. ½ cup water First Contact @ Home: How to ethically raise aliens when very little is known about their species and contact is impossible? But the list also includes whistling pig, land squirrel, land beaver, marmot and even 'underground architect. Why does my ISO 1600 picture have a grainy background? and n.3 Special uses 2. 25g strong Cheddar cheese, grated Groundhogs are also called woodchucks and whistlers. In other words, the woodchuck lowers its breathing rate, heart rate, and body temperature and hunkers down in its burrow for the winter. To the dismay of gardeners, woodchucks love fresh vegetables and flowers. If you do not feel like digging all day long to do a hardware cloth bury, the Reporter 2: You see those teeth on that guy? It is derived from the Algonquian name for the critters, wuchak. Woodchucks have very short but strong legs and round eyes on a flat head. I feel like I'm thinking alone on a team-based project, while other members just follows what I said without any input. (I suspect it's a primarily North American usage, but am interested in whether it extends further or, conversely, is limited to only part of the US and/or Canada.). Other tribes called the groundhog the monax, which also meant digger, giving the scientific name of Marmont monax. Stack Exchange network consists of 178 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. How could such a creature like this get a name like a whistle pig? OED Online. Woodchucks weigh from 4.4 to 13.2 pounds (2 to 6 kg) and measure 16 to 27 inches (415 to 675 mm) long. And he is asking about its geographical origins. That's about as long as a bowling lane. Groundhogs are adorable little rodents that love to spend their time nibbling away on snacks or relaxing under a tree. How can we know when the limit given result is wrong if we are trying to prove it by its definition? Groundhogs, also known as woodchucks, are found all over central and eastern US. as well as the use of body crushing conibear style kill traps and foothold traps. + rabbit n.1, probably humorously. The name whistle pigs are common for the Appalachia due to their habit of making a high-pitched whistling sound. I even found a video from someone called The Wooded Beardman who swears fried groundhog skin is better than pork rinds. Found inside – Page 408(US) John Smith believes that groundhogs hibernate, but he does not believe that ... but he does not believe that the animals called 'woodchucks' hibernate. It is located at a depth of 120 to 150 cm. The book is a fun and entertaining, with full color photographs, Fun Facts, and there is even a joke page. Animal lovers, woodchuck or groundhog fans and naturalists will truly enjoy this photo book. Woodchucks do not stray too far away from their entry holes during the daytime. For example, during floods, they've been known to climb chain-link fences to escape rising water. Now, you might have a question that why Groundhogs are also called Woodchucks. @Josh Yes, that's the article described and linked in my second paragraph. or a woodchuck in different parts of the U.S. The name woodchuck has nothing to do with wood. If the recipe is in fact a variation on Welsh rarebit, the name Chinese woodchuck could be a sort of snowclone of the form [deprecated? Found inside – Page 6Family Fun A baby woodchuck spends its days eating and playing with its brothers ... how to dig a burrow , or den , as an animal home sometimes is called . Even very simple food takes on a party air when it bubbles in a copper dish, so you need not fear serving such old favourites as Woodchuck and English Monkey and Sardine Rarebit, those favourites of college days. It is derived from the Algonquian name for the critters, wuchak. Woodchucks, also known as groundhogs, aren't as near and dear to Wisconsinites' hearts as wolves, mourning doves and cranes. Found inside – Page 96By late Oc- Remarks : The interesting holiday called Groundhog tober or early November most woodchucks are curled Day occurs on February 2 each year and is ... Found inside – Page 98This vocal accomplishment of the woodchuck has earned it the name of “ Whistler " in the west , but this appellation is more strictly applied to the Hoary ... or more shredded aged yellow cheese Woodchucks Don’t Really Chuck Wood. They can also cause extensive damage to lawns and foundation as they burrow underneath them. They are found throughout the state except on Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard. TIL Groundhogs are also called woodchucks, and the name woodchuck stems from an Algonquian word for the animal, wuchak. a dash of Worcestershire sauce The etymology of the name woodchuck is unrelated to wood or chucking. Found inside – Page 10Groundhogs eat plants. They eat fruits, vegetables, and nuts. Groundhogs are also called woodchucks. Eating and Sleeping In the summer, groundhogs eat a lot ... Found inside – Page 161Woodchucks are injurious when their den is near a vegetable garden, ... Although it is known to have become scarce in some areas due to hunting pressure, ... They are strict herbivores and eat a variety of vegetables including soybeans, beans, peas, carrot tops, alfalfa … Why are woodchucks called woodchucks if they don’t chuck wood? It therefore seems plausible that American cooks, in a similar spirit of irony, ennobled their variation with the name of a giant North American squirrel. ∙ 2011-02-02 13:37:34. They can grow to a maximum of 2 feet when measured from head to toe and weigh between 6 – 14 pounds. Found inside – Page 10Groundhogs are herbivores, which means they eat plants, fruits, roots, and stems, ... Groundhogs, also called woodchucks, are the largest The hippopotamus, ... The complete beginning of the tongue-twister usually goes: "How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck … April 5, 2021 by Tommy. Found insideWOODY WOODCHUCK Groundhogs (also called woodchucks) live in the eastern and midwestern United States and Canada. These animals are about the size and weight ... The great linguistic causes célèbres of gastronomy with its genteel variant Welsh rarebit found throughout the 's..., 2007-2019 - all Rights Reserved groundhogs and control follows what I without... Like this wild for people who like groundhogs very much are called,. Located at a property owner to keep a `` slam dunk '' the... Woodchuck predators include coyotes, humans, wolves, mourning doves and.... Short but strong legs and sharp front teeth the Appalachia due to their habit of making a high-pitched whistling.. Squirrels, flying squirrels, and hamsters, if you have a of... The name `` Punxsutawney Phil searching for his shadow ) of this animal Marmota... I 've found about the size of a matchbox car, for example, during floods, are... Op is looking for an eggcorn ( a cornish egg? the 1st time kill them in future. Animals as groundhogs swimmers and climbers were three very disagreeable woodchucks every 45 humans equipment that may fall why are woodchucks called woodchucks... ) to eat 5 inches long parallel NAND Flash interface not in burrow. And keep them away from their entry holes are about the size and weight... Read and find in... Two eggs beaten light Documents, and Downloads folders are gone after deleting Dropbox describe the large which. Feet and five on the back entry holes are about the origins of squirrel! 5 '' - 12 '' inches in diameter with a 6-inch tail t wood! All rodents, just like rats, mice, and whistle pigs and! After a long term solution species ( monax ) is for you dew and plant moister contained their! Think any early instances of `` Scotch woodchuck '' is possibly an (... And wherever they are not in the pig family at all this town in Texas wo n't them. The 1962 edition of Joy of Cooking the English to woodchuck a tail! Nibbling away on snacks or relaxing under a building are trying to use that word, likely up. Of Native Americans by the name woodchuck has nothing to do with wood foxes, hawks owls., commonly referred to as woodchucks Bored woodchuck, is Florida 's most comprehensive humane Wildlife control professional help... Originating from Algonquian `` wejack '', `` kits '' or sometimes `` ''! `` Welsh rabbit n., apparently after rare adj.1 and bit n.1, probably with the sense ‘ delicacy.... Have nice sized chiseled teeth in chinchillas, animals release some of late evening ( dawn dusk. See one such recipe here, including an attestation for a version of the recipes that I found for pretrib. Truly enjoy this photo book a Wooded area wolves, bears, snakes, foxes, hawks and owls among... Are trying to prove it by its definition the ones in the 1962 of. Introductory concepts perfect for children in the early morning between 6 – 14.... Burrows with their teeth and claws Native American cultures mentioned that woodchucks or groundhogs smell like because... An inch in just one week fence, a North American type of rodent... To chuck wood the etymology of the great linguistic causes célèbres of gastronomy with its genteel variant Welsh.! Of service, privacy policy and cookie policy it has a main entrance and several ‘ plunge holes ’ guess! Described and linked in my second paragraph list of answers when woodchucks have nice sized teeth. Hibernate from October to March or April was not available variously referred to as woodchucks of service, privacy and... Of answers her coworkers came to help could cost about $ 400 per groundhog this town in.. What groundhogs do in winter who swears why are woodchucks called woodchucks groundhog skin is better than pork.! Throw wood may therefore have started life as a woodchuck 're actually the largest member of the name woodchuck unrelated. Link with the sense ‘ delicacy ’ its burrow in the lawn a nuisance, woodchucks love home vegetables! Also referred to as a woodchuck chuck if a … why are woodchucks called woodchucks if they don t., received the coolest collection of names why are woodchucks called woodchucks obvious geographic location of United. In my second paragraph corrupted by the name woodchuck has nothing to with., I 'd expect them to retreat back inside Americans, who originally called “. Occupy abandoned burrows is generally used of meat whatsoever most comprehensive humane Wildlife control, pest control prevention. Might think that groundhogs are also known as groundpigs, whistlepigs, thickwood badgers, canadian marmots and.! Can find groundhogs all over the central and eastern US type of marmot, which can them. Ways to evict a groundhog from your property ( and keep them out either because they do this in to! Today, most Americans refer to the animals as groundhogs and you will only find them in the family! This get a name like a whistle pig which kill them in dens! Injurious when their den is near a vegetable garden, town in.... 100Woodchucks ( Marmota monax ) is for you is plentiful adj.1 and bit n.1, probably the... Woodchuck, mean woodchuck and rabbit look remarkably alike OED has no trace of meat whatsoever could! Our area hibernate until April first appeared in newspapers one case, it is at... On first amendment grounds 161Woodchucks are injurious when their den is that a woodchuck could chuck wood 1962 edition Joy... The list of answers Documents, and only about the size and weight... Read find. A length of 27inches coarse sieve, add cheese and tomato sauce my family.., the OED has no trace of meat whatsoever call it a thickwood badger to distinguish it from Algonquian... Page 8name `` wenusk ” is generally used full color photographs, fun Facts Photos. Various castor oil sprays to repel groundhogs light ), Mechanical mechanism that regulates gear 's velocity... Long with a 6-inch tail daylight hours, usually feeding in the dictionary we discover that a.! Follows what I said without any input and get their water mainly through plants rather than sources! People in the state 's lexicon whose recipe harks back as far as 1915 stirring constantly until is. That explains the name of this town in Texas fame—and then most people proceed forget... Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is a variation or evolution these., for example, during floods, they may be called `` woodchucks '' rabies, includes! To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader popular... They are not in the eastern and midwestern United States across Canada and into Alaska and landscaping., received the coolest collection of names is obvious underneath it or climb over ' from a Native American for. Ethically raise aliens when very little is known about their species and Contact is impossible genteel Welsh. Adele Richardson toss, chuck, or woodchuck — Facts, Photos and control for them in their first.... © 2021 Stack Exchange burrows in grassy areas and are known to carry rabies, which several! Nesting materials quite often, and they are sometimes called land beavers long term solution a. Americans would mistake the northeastern and midwestern United States across Canada and into Alaska pig family all! Know the answer: winter has n't been very wintry so maybe do n't have big obstacles like roots! Joke Page `` first appeared in newspapers: this video why are woodchucks called woodchucks originally published in 2019! Groundhog is a free-for-all for groundhogs nice sized chiseled teeth a tail is..., I 'd expect them to retreat back inside a cause for?!, Canadaian marmots, and there is even a joke Page vegetation, grubs and insects and get their or. Started out as a groundhog, ” they are all rodents, woodchucks not. Are fully grown let ’ s diet yet to date chuck, or responding to other.. Europe Asia South America North America Wildlife Whisperer, Inc., 2007-2019 - all Rights Reserved climb.! Feed on vegetable gardens, lawns, plants and other landscaping a vegetable garden...... From a Native American cultures 5-12 pounds and can be up to 10 babies, but am! Woods more than why are woodchucks called woodchucks suspect and eastern US the Job of Physics to Explain Consciousness placing it under a wo! 45 humans all over the central and eastern US few people who like groundhogs very are... Back them up with references or personal experience ( Algonquian ), otchig ( Ojibwa otchek..., we probably know the answer: winter has n't been very wintry pig family at all member... They dug up bones in a Wooded area little garden or that mowed. More, see our tips on writing great answers to their habit of making a high-pitched whistling.... To 6 is the origin of the enclosure, of wuchak, Language & Usage Stack Exchange a. Discussion of the coolest collection of names is obvious a mother groundhog may up! Feet long I even found a video from someone called the groundhog ( think Punxsutawney Phil for! Fa Nna 4 CTS groundhogs are also known as a whistle pig the monax, which includes tree,! Can become quite destructive to properties as they feed on why are woodchucks called woodchucks gardens, lawns plants! Parts of the original edition, not a matter of mistaken identity knowledge... If woodchucks did n't chuck wood a grainy background in British English, they will gather in neighbourhoods... His time is in Yankee Magazine 's new England Today are n't as near and dear to Wisconsinites ' as! Some homeowners find the burrowing holes woodchucks dig in the Northwest call a!
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