![]() ![]() Waking too soon can actually be dangerous. While Punxsutawney Phil emerges from his burrow every year before deciding whether or not he will continue to hibernate, has reported that groundhogs outside captivity will actually remain in hibernation if cold weather continues through March. Their breathing decreases from 16 breaths per minute to just two, and the heartbeat goes from 80 beats per minute to five. In contrast, the human body enters a state of mild hypothermia after dropping just three degrees Fahrenheit, and a drop to 70 F results in death.īody heat is not the only thing that drops when a groundhog enters hibernation. Much of this activity is done around gardens/farms, which is why groundhogs are so widely considered as pests.During hibernation, the groundhog's body temperature drops from 99 F to as low as 37 F, according to the National Wildlife Federation. However, they are open to communcation with other groundhogs, making high-pitched noises to warn others of predators. The only time that they really interact with other groundhogs is when they’re looking to mate. While foraging, these are very solitary animals. With adults weighing over 10 lbs, that’s over 3 lbs of fruits, vegetables, and grasses every single day. In fat, groundhogs eat about 1/3 of their weight in vegetation every single day. As these are herbivores (that eat the occasional insect), they need to eat a lot of food in order to get the energy that they need. While they’re awake, groundhogs spend most of their time eating. For example, if a farm is active during the morning, a groundhog may wait until later to come out and forage. This means that they may be active earlier or later depending on activity levels around them. Groundhogs are also very solitary animals, so they prefer to be active when there aren’t any disturbances. ![]() This is likely because of the fact that these are the least active times for their natural predators, so it’s the safest to be out. Typically, groundhogs are more active during the early morning and the early evening - when the time of day is just transitioning. They survive off of the remaining stored fat until springtime brings warmer weather and vegitation for feeding.Īs stated, groundhogs are diurnal and are generally active during the day and sleeping at night. When hibernation ends, the groundhogs have lost about half of their body weight. They experience periods of torpor (very low activity) and arousal (awake and alert to use the bathroom). Groundhogs don’t just sleep entirely through the winter, though. While hibernating, their body temperature drops as low as 35F and their heart beats 4-10 times per minute. They can hibernate for as little as 3 months, though, and males hibernate for a shorter time than females.īefore hibernating, they eat a large amount of food and weigh their heaviest that they weigh all year. ![]() This hibernation period usually begins in October and ends by March. In fact, they’re true hibernators, meaning that they enter a period of deep sleep for several months instead of just reducing activity levels. Groundhogs are active during the day, so why are there long periods when these creatures aren’t seen? Do groundhogs hibernate? So, groundhogs are out and about during the day, eating throughout most of that time, then return to their burrow at night. Groundhogs can be active earlier/later depending on the time of year. While humans are also diurnal, we don’t always share the exact sleep schedule. Instead, they’re diurnal, meaning that they sleep at night and are active during the day from spring to fall. What Do They Do While Awake? Are Groundhogs Nocturnal?.
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