Groundhogs are lousy forecasters but valuable animal engineers – and an important food source

By: Steven Sullivan

Outlets: Alaska Beacon

Published: February 2, 2026

Words: 1,516

Last Updated: 3 weeks, 5 days ago


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Whether you call him groundhog, woodchuck, whistle-pig or use the full genus and species name, Marmota monax, the nation’s premiere animal weather forecaster has been making headlines as Punxsutawney Phil for decades.

The largest ground squirrel in its range, groundhogs like Phil are found throughout the midwestern United States, most of Canada and into southern Alaska. M. monax is the most widespread marmot, while the Vancouver Island marmot (M. vancouverensis) is …

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