How do groundhogs manage to survive in the cold?
As food supplies become scarce in the colder months, groundhogs burrow away as a mode of survival. But how do their bodies react to the harsh winter temperatures while they sleep?
Groundhogs are considered "true hibernators," according to National Geographic, meaning their body temperature drops below 20 degrees Celsius, or 68 degrees Fahrenheit.
During hibernation, the groundhog's body temperature drops from 99 F to as low as 37 F, according to the National Wildlife Federation. 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.
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Punxsutawney Phil during the 2022 Groundhog Day celebration at the Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) |
Body heat is not the only thing that drops when a groundhog enters hibernation. Their breathing decreases from 16 breaths per minute to just two, and the heartbeat goes from 80 beats per minute to five.
While Punxsutawney Phil emerges from his burrow every year before deciding whether or not he will continue to hibernate, LiveScience.com has reported that groundhogs outside captivity will actually remain in hibernation if cold weather continues through March. Waking too soon can actually be dangerous.
The process of coming out of hibernation raises the metabolism of the animal, which needs to be low in the winter to conserve energy. Raising the metabolism quickly burns the fat the groundhog had stored for over the winter. If it is still cold outside, they may not be able to find food to refuel themselves.
The average length of groundhog hibernation is three to four months. Because the purpose of hibernation is to survive during times of low food supplies in colder weather, the length of their hibernation depends on the geographic location in which they reside. Groundhogs living farther north will experience longer winters, and therefore longer periods of hibernation than those living farther south, such as Alabama.
Prior to entering hibernation, the groundhog can consume up to a pound of food. This, combined with a low metabolism, allows for them to go around 150 days without food. The foods they eat before they hibernate are protein rich, and build up their body fat. Because of their low metabolism during hibernation, they lose less than one fourth of their body weight.
Male groundhogs are the first to emerge from hibernation in search of a female as mating season begins. It is important they emerge from hibernation at the correct time to begin mating, as if they wait too late, their offspring will not gain the weight they need in time for the next hibernation.
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