OkcPets Magazine January 2024

January / February 2024 • OKC Pets 15 Groundhogs are rodents and members of the squirrel branch. They are good-sized, measuring as much as two feet in length and 14 pounds in weight (probably peaking there right before hibernation). Because ground- hogs are big diggers and chewers, they are considered “ecosystem engineers” — they modify their environments, thus providing other species opportunities to thrive by maintaining healthy soil. Nature is always connected, one system leading to another, including groundhogs and their lifestyles. There are many other names for ground- hogs — in some areas, they are called marmots. Another name is “whistle pig” because of the sound they make to alert their colonies when danger nears. Of course, we all know one more nom de num-num: “How much wood can a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?” Yep, these guys are also called woodchucks, although how much wood they can chuck remains a mystery. The term originated through “wuchak,” meaning “digger” in Algonquian. As far as personalities, groundhogs are quite intelligent; they communicate, coop- erate, and create social networks and are good parents. And one more nugget of fun stuff to know: A baby woodchuck is called a chuckling, which — IMHO — advances their cute factor to infinity. Here in the United States, ground- hogs can be found in the lowlands from Alaska to Alabama and from Oregon to West Virginia. They are fairly vegetarian, making exceptions for large insects, snails, and eggs. Farmers struggle with these guys because groundhogs are able diggers and easily burrow their way under fences to wreak havoc on prized gardens. There’s a hysterical video circling the web about a guy whose vegetable garden was steadily disappearing, his produce being ruined bite by bite — https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=EkOmaLlXiVs. A camera revealed a groundhog as the culprit. Several times a day, it would snag a choice vegetable, seat itself before the lens, and munch away in something akin to performance art, eyeballing the audience while enthusiastically smacking and chew- ing. As the scenes unfold (and the garden shrinks), the owner becomes attached to “his” groundhog. Then it appeared with a groundhogette. Fast-forward to a happy ending: The pair is allowed to fatten up before hibernating, and Our Hero plants TWO gardens in the future — one for him and his family and the other for his furred and feathered neighbors. Awwwww…. And Don’t Forget Friday, February 2, is Groundhog Day, woohoo! In honor of this wonderful tradition, I’ve been inspired to write an article perfectly suited to … groundhogs, with a nod to the movie Groundhog Day. (Surprise!) Let’s revisit the Pennsylvania Dutch (synonymous with Pennsylvania Ger- man), circa 1880s. A movement begins for further celebrating Groundhog Day. To extend the event, Elks Lodge mem- bers planned a groundhog hunt, then an ensuing picnic of cooked groundhog and groundhog punch. The effort didn’t stick. (Maybe because the punch was a broth of groundhog meat, but what do I know?) Nevertheless, they persevered, finally forming an organization of social clubs to preserve their language and culture. Beginning in the 1930s and dubbed Groundhog Lodges, the meetings — called “versammlinges” (with a strictly male mem- bership) — don’t sound quite as serious as one would guess. Existing photos reveal a decorated eight-foot groundhog mannequin being crowned, with allegiance pledged by about 400 members. The rest of the evening was spent toasting their lodge and ground- hog, eating, singing, performing, joking, and fining anyone who spoke English. I daresay beer was involved. In this day, the most famous Groundhog Day ceremony happens in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, where the current Punx- sutawney Phil (said to be 133 years old) is consulted for predictions at Gobbler’s Knob. Members of the Groundhog Club’s Inner Circle — gentlemen in formal suits and top hats — gather at the podium to hoist Phil (with great care and respect) for his proclamation. Since the release of the Groundhog Day movie in 1993, the festivities have grown to an all-night party on February 1, with fireworks, dancing, and more. Events in- clude the groundhog banquet, the ground- hog ball (always a sellout), and of course the dawn reckoning of Phil. If I’m starting to sound like a travel agent, I must admit, researching this critter and a community having that much fun has started to sound pretty good for a midwinter holiday. One More Time Friday, February 2, is Groundhog Day, woohoo! In honor of this wonderful tradi- tion, I’ve written an article perfectly suited to … groundhogs, with a nod to the movie Groundhog Day. To no surprise. It’s mealtime for this little fellow. Groundhogs are mostly vegetarian. Photo by Kathy Locker.