Things you may not know about February's forecaster...





Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife





*mefishwildlife.com*






Well Phil, what's the forecast?
A groundhog peeking out of a snowy burrow in spring.

Groundhog Day is the day we set aside our most (and least) trusted weather apps and ignore the weather station professionals, instead placing our full faith and trust in the meteorological expertise of a famous rodent. Will winter continue or is spring right around the corner? Only time, and the televised announcement of February's favorite furry forecaster will tell. The roots of Groundhog Day are based in lore and tradition, but is there any scientific reason to trust a Phil's forecast? Let’s examine the groundhog’s credentials (or lack thereof).

________________________________________________________________________



Groundhogs are the squirrel family’s largest member.

They aren't just any rodent, they're a particularly chonky squirrel. Impressed yet? Perhaps their stout build is what helps exude an air of confidence as they predict six weeks of our future. One might say that rodents of smaller size live in the shadow of the great Punxsutawney Phil.

Groundhogs are also called woodchucks.

Nobody seems to know how much wood a woodchuck would chuck or even if a woodchuck could chuck wood, all of which seems irrelevant to forecasting the weather. It is however, a skill that may come in handy when they dig their expansive burrows. They have to have somewhere to go if there is going to be six more weeks of winter! Their wild neighbors appreciate their construction skills too. Did you know that empty woodchuck burrows are commonly used by a wide variety of other denning wildlife such as opossums, raccoons, foxes, and skunks?

Groundhogs are one of just a few true hibernators in Maine.

Not even bears make this list, but meadow jumping mice and some bats do! With a reduced metabolism, slow heart rate and respiration, and a body temperature less than half of normal all winter, they have clearly not been focused on the latest weather patterns. You know that foggy feeling you have when you wake up suddenly from a deep sleep? Imagine that after several months of being practically comatose! But sure, let's trust their deductive reasoning skills.

*Groundhogs are herbivores.*

We wouldn't be surprised to learn that groundhogs spend the winter dreaming of a spring menu of grasses, dandelions, and clover. With so many delicious fine dining opportunities promised by April showers and May flowers, surely they have a bias toward spring. Seeing his shadow may be bad enough news to trigger the high-pitched alarm call that gives the groundhog (woodchuck) yet another nickname- ‘whistelpig’.

Groundhogs have breeding on the brain this time of year.

When groundhogs wake up, finding mates is the top priority, and number two is more sleep. Males scope out dens with females, check on their territory, then take another nap before breeding season begins for real. Telling you whether or not to give up on ski season is probably third on the list at best.

*Learn more about groundhogs* [ [link removed] ]


________________________________________________________________________



A woodchuck on a log in spring

Well folks, there you have it. We've armed you with a few facts about groundhogs so you can make an informed decision about whether or not you trust Phil's forecast.

The decision is up to you. Either way, we hope you enjoy whatever we are in for over the next 6 weeks in the great Maine outdoors. Maine has something for everyone in every season!

 



*Plan your next outdoor Maine adventure!* [ [link removed] ]






________________________________________________________________________



More information

Native Maine Wildlife [ [link removed] ]

Exploring the Outdoors on Private Land [ [link removed] ]

Fishing in Maine [ [link removed] ]

Hunting in Maine [ [link removed] ]

Outdoor Safety [ [link removed] ]

Upcoming Programs and Workshops [ [link removed] ]

 








Stay Connected with Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife:   Facebook [ [link removed] ] Twitter [ [link removed] ] Youtube [ [link removed] ] LinkedIn [ [link removed] ] Govdelivery [ [link removed] ]  

SUBSCRIBER SERVICES:
Manage Subscriptions [ [link removed] ]  |  Unsubscribe All [ [link removed] ]  |  Help [ [link removed] ]



________________________________________________________________________

This email was sent to [email protected] using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife ·41 State House Station · Augusta, ME 04333-0041 · (207) 287-8000 GovDelivery logo [ [link removed] ]