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Woodchuck is another name for a groundhog. Also known in some areas as a 'whistlepig'.
I didn't appreciate the name "whistlepig" until I accidentally got too close to a groundhog tunnel entrance during nursery season. Mom whistled the alarm. It was the most amazingly loud sound I had ever heard. I literally jumped in the air when I heard it. My husband was watching from the kitchen and said I was a sight to see.
I have heard that, but mine are too fat, lazy and well-fed to climb trees. LOL I have a couple that have learned how to hoist themselves up into a bird bath converted to a bird feeder. It's about 2.5 feet high. Once in the feeder, they gorge themselves. And then knock over the feeder as they dismount.
I'd never have thought that they would climb trees if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes!
I loved our woodchuck-groundhogs! We had at least 5-6 and I named every one of them, "Snuffles." (You can't tell 'em apart, so you might as well call them the same name, right?!) They are surprisingly friendly once they get used to you. Well, friendly might not be the right word... less skittish, maybe. I saw one scramble up a tree once, too, and it was surprisingly agile for as doofusy and clumsy as they appear. I used to walk out in the morning and yell, "chippies!" and the groundhogs, squirrels, chipmunks, Blue Jays and other birds would all come like I was stinkin' Snow White. They really do get used to you if you get into a routine of feeding everyone. Good thing we lived in the country or the neighbors would have probably been weirded out by me.
Marmota Monax aka Ground Hog ~ Wood Chuck ~ Whistling Pig.. Aggressive rodent I use to trap them when I was a teen and they would chew off their own leg to escape.. They are not furry and cuddly. If cornered they will attack !
I loved our woodchuck-groundhogs! We had at least 5-6 and I named every one of them, "Snuffles." (You can't tell 'em apart, so you might as well call them the same name, right?!) They are surprisingly friendly once they get used to you. Well, friendly might not be the right word... less skittish, maybe. I saw one scramble up a tree once, too, and it was surprisingly agile for as doofusy and clumsy as they appear. I used to walk out in the morning and yell, "chippies!" and the groundhogs, squirrels, chipmunks, Blue Jays and other birds would all come like I was stinkin' Snow White. They really do get used to you if you get into a routine of feeding everyone. Good thing we lived in the country or the neighbors would have probably been weirded out by me.
Haha, we name ours, too. They haven't gotten any less skittish, though. The moment I crack open my back door, they skedaddle.
Two years ago, we got lucky and saw accidentally saw 2 groundhogs mating. (I felt a little weird watching them...) Mating doesn't last very long at all and afterward, Mom chased off Dad. We cheered when we saw little hogs popping out of the tunnel late that spring. Mating Day was April 15, which was hard to forget, since it is also Tax Day.
Of course, I now have several families of groundhogs who have made themselves at home in my backyard. We didn't have them when we had dogs, but without dogs, those guys feel right at home. I would be OK with a few less groundhogs these days, but I am not one to go trapping and/or killing wildlife.
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Good thing we lived in the country or the neighbors would have probably been weirded out by me. 
We didn't have them when we had dogs, but without dogs, those guys feel right at home. I would be OK with a few less groundhogs these days, but I am not one to go trapping and/or killing wildlife.
