Groundhogs

This tongue twister doesn’t have quite the same ring to it if you say “groundhog” instead of “woodchuck,” but it’s still accurate. Groundhogs and woodchucks are two different names for the same critter! They’re also nicknamed “whistle pigs” because their alarm call sounds a lot like a whistle.

In a fallen world where predators hunt for prey, God has given animals like groundhogs the ability to warn each other when danger is near. When a groundhog whistles to alert other groundhogs, other animals hear and react, too.

Groundhogs live in meadows and woodlands across North America. They munch on small plants and love to dig burrows. These underground homes can have up to seven entrances. A groundhog tunnel can stretch over 60 feet—as long as a semi-truck!

Groundhogs are part of the squirrel kind, which God created on day six of creation week. Although they are decent climbers, groundhogs mostly stay put on or below the ground. Their feet are more paddle-like than squirrels’ feet, making them better at digging than climbing.

The most famous groundhog is Punxsutawney Phil, the star of Groundhog Day in the US. Every year on February 2, people wait for Phil to come out of his burrow. Legend has it that if he sees his shadow, winter will continue for six more weeks. If he doesn’t see his shadow, spring will come early.

This is an example of a superstition, a belief people have about something that will happen as the result of an action. But at creation, God established laws and cycles that determine weather patterns. As Christians, we should trust in God’s power, not in silly superstitions.

Can You Match it?

We can still have fun with Groundhog Day as a holiday. Match the correct groundhog with its shadow.

I’m Peter Schriemer! As a wildlife educator and TV host, I get excited about tracking down God’s creatures! Join my adventures on my Answers TV show Hike & Seek.

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