WooDCHUCK Marmota 



nuix III OH a. \ 



The WooD-CiircK: Ground-Hog 



Marmota monax monax 



The wood-chuck or ground-hog is one of the 

 most widely distributed of the Pennsylvania mammals. 

 It is a rather large, heavy-bodied, short-tailed, terres- 

 trial form, with a blunt nose, large rounded head and 

 comparatively short ears. The short legs make the 

 body appear to be rather robust. The fore feet have 

 four well-developed toes and the animal uses these to 

 good advantage in digging. The hind feet are equipped 

 with five toes. The color is usually a mottled grey with 

 a brownish tint, the males and females being alike. 

 The wood-chuck is a sluggish and somewhat stupid 

 animal and, as a rule, ft does not venture far from its 

 burrow. When danger approaches it raises itself on its 

 hind legs, looks about and immediately "make for 

 home." While it is occasionally a solitary animal, the 

 ground-hogs usually live in colonies and the entrances 

 to a number of burrows are usually grouped within a 



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