Groundhog
WAFFLES, our charming groundhog—also known as a whistlepig—arrived at Animal Tracks in January 2022 when he was just nine months old. He came from a professional movie animal company, but now he’s living his best life here at the sanctuary.
Waffles is full of personality and energy! He loves walking around on his hind legs, dashing up the ramps in his enclosure, and, most of all, running on his giant exercise wheel—his absolute favorite pastime. He’s also a treat connoisseur, with nuts and bananas topping the list of his favorite snacks.
With his gregarious nature and playful antics, Waffles has quickly become a volunteer favorite. Whether he’s showing off his agility or eagerly accepting treats, he never fails to bring smiles to everyone who meets him!
ORDER: Rodentia
FAMILY: Sciuridae
GENUS: Marmota
SPECIES: Monax
Groundhogs are the largest rodent in the squirrel family and most well-known diggers in the world. Due to their large geographical dispersal, they have a few different names: “woodchuck,” “whistle pig,” “land beaver,” “Canadian marmot,” “thick wood badger, “and a “weenusk”. They have a double layer of fur that keeps them warm and waterproof. They are diurnal or day dwelling and solitary. They build summer dens and winter dens with several entrances and even bedroom and bathroom chambers. They are true hibernators, which helps them get thru the coldest parts of winter when food would be hardest to find. They breed year round, where the males will emerge from their winter slumber before the females. Gestation is about 32 days long with 1- 9 pups in the litter. They leave mama at 2 months old and can sexually mature by a year. They are very important to the survival of others as their abandoned burrows provide shelter for rabbits, raccoons, foxes, weasels, skunks, and opossums. They are also Mother Natures soil aerators. They can move over 700 pounds of soil when digging just one den. Believe it or not they are good swimmers and climbers. Some say they can even predict spring.
Threats
Habitat destruction and fur trade.
Conservation Status
CE - Critically Endangered