Page 3 - Kind News Jan/Feb 2021, Teacher Guide

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Critter Clues FROM PAGE 7

Our mystery critter is the groundhog. Although
they are best known for the superstition that they can predict
the coming of springtime, these furry creatures are unique
for many other reasons!
Groundhogs can be found all over North America.
They are omnivores but eat mainly vegetables. Aside
from raising their babies, groundhogs are mostly
solitary creatures. Despite this, groundhogs do
communicate to warn each other of danger. They
emit a high-pitched, shrill sound to do so, earning
them the nickname “whistle-pig!”
Groundhogs are “true” hibernators. They
rely on body fat to make it through the winter!
A groundhog’s heartbeat and body temperature
drop dramatically during hibernation. If the weather
is colder, they will wait longer to emerge in the spring.
It’s possible that this contributed to the tradition of
celebrating Groundhog Day, but it can also be traced
back to German settlers who believed that animals like
groundhogs or badgers could predict the weather, and other
European settlers who thought that if the sun was shining on
February 2, there would be six more weeks of winter.
Although they spend most of their time alone, groundhogs still build
opposite page, from the top: redrover; raja: bryan huff. this page: amy moore/pixabay.
extensive burrows for their families. Their burrows can be over 60 feet long and
have many different chambers and entrances. Groundhogs are not considered a threatened species, but farmers and
gardeners often see them as pests because they eat crops. Farmers also worry about the impact of groundhog
burrows on farms: machines can break when they run over the mounds, and horses can trip over them. There are
many humane ways of resolving conflicts with groundhogs, however, such as building high fences. For more information,
visit humanesociety.org/resources/what-do-about-woodchucks.

BOOK NOOK

Straydog
Written by Kathe Koja | Recommended for ages 8 and up
High school misfit Rachel is content just volunteering at the local animal shelter and
writing stories, until she meets a feral collie who inspires her to build relationships
and confront her own emotions. The book explores themes of volunteerism, stray
animals, and relationship building.
COPYRIGHT: STRAYDOG. © 2004 BY KATHE KOJA. PUBLISHED BY SPEAK, A DIVISION OF PUFFIN
BOOKS, NEW YORK, NY.