Fauna Flora Photography

Groundhog Marmota monax

A common, larger rodent, hibernates and can be seen only after the last snow has gone and spring arrived. Groundhogs are used to civilization and build their burrows near houses.

Taxonomy

Mammalia > Rodentia > Sciuridae

Names in different Languages

GermanWaldmurmeltier
EnglishGroundhog
FrenchMarmotte commune
SpanishMarmota canadiense

How to Identify

Around Montreal, there are no similar species like Hoary Marmot, Yellow-bellied Marmot or Vancouver Island Marmot, so that identification of this species is simple.

Where When to Spot

I saw Groundhogs in almost every park around Montreal. Morning and late afternoon, look out for patches of meadows where they like to feed. Although, living close to houses, they will run into the burrow when you get close.

SpringSummerFallWinter
Dorval 0 1 0 0
Jardin Botanique de Montréal 0 2 0 0
Parc Angrignon 4 1 0 0
Parc Mont-Royal 1 1 0 0
Parc Nature Pointe aux Prairies 1 0 0 0
Parc des Rapides 1 1 0 0
Saguenay St. Lawrence Marine Park 0 1 0 0
Tadoussac 1 0 0 0
  8 7 0 0

Number of times a species has been observed, identified, and recorded. A species is reported only once per visit to a park.

Photos of Groundhog

Videos of Groundhog

You can watch these videos and many more on Muuuh's YouTube Channel.


Last updated on 2023-06-15. Written and regularly updated by Karl-Heinz Müller, Dipl. Natw. ETH, Biology. With 10 years of experience in wildlife photography, Karl-Heinz shares first-hand, on-site collected observations, photos and videos from his frequent visits to parks in the Montreal area.