Groundhogs are the largest members of the squirrel family and one of 14 species of marmots. When I taught a dictionary lesson in October, the word marmot was used--I became quite attached to it, not realizing that the groundhog belonged to the marmot species.
I think I would like to be like the groundhog and gorge on food all summer and hibernate all winter, especially this winter. I would love to emerge from hibernation to welcome Spring.
I love groundhogs, but then I have never been a farmer. I have fallen into a few groundhog holes before, tricky business. They are called Woodchucks in Ohio where I grew up, but they are sometimes called whistle-pigs, and land-beavers. They are not even related to beavers.
You have to be carefull about not mixing up Groundhogs, Prairiedogs, and Potguts. I used to hunt Potguts for fun, figuring the I was not likely to do much damage to the population. You have to be very quick and accurate, and I was neither. It gave me a greater appreciation for those backwoodsmen who could regularly pickoff a squirrel with a Kentucky Flintlock, This last weekend, my children made beef potstickers for my birthday party - but I also really enjoy ones made with pork - so I guess you could say I like to eat "ground hog" (Sausage too!).
Apparently, Groundhog Day on Feb. 2 is a "cross-quarter" day, about halfway between the winter solstice in December and the vernal equinox in March, and is celebrated in some cultures as the midpoint of winter. It's not far from the time many groundhogs end their hibernation anyway, around the second week of February. (Isn't Google wonderful? You can find anything.)
Groundhogs are the largest members of the squirrel family and one of 14 species of marmots. When I taught a dictionary lesson in October, the word marmot was used--I became quite attached to it, not realizing that the groundhog belonged to the marmot species.
ReplyDeleteI think I would like to be like the groundhog and gorge on food all summer and hibernate all winter, especially this winter. I would love to emerge from hibernation to welcome Spring.
ReplyDeleteOh, Tamara, this sounds like my dream come true (as long as I can read while "hibernating"!)
Delete(Not sure why I was Mrs. Herron in the previous comment!)
I love groundhogs, but then I have never been a farmer. I have fallen into a few groundhog holes before, tricky business. They are called Woodchucks in Ohio where I grew up, but they are sometimes called whistle-pigs, and land-beavers. They are not even related to beavers.
ReplyDeleteAre there groundhogs in Utah? Are there whistle-pigs in Utah? :-)
ReplyDeleteYou have to be carefull about not mixing up Groundhogs, Prairiedogs, and Potguts. I used to hunt Potguts for fun, figuring the I was not likely to do much damage to the population. You have to be very quick and accurate, and I was neither. It gave me a greater appreciation for those backwoodsmen who could regularly pickoff a squirrel with a Kentucky Flintlock, This last weekend, my children made beef potstickers for my birthday party - but I also really enjoy ones made with pork - so I guess you could say I like to eat "ground hog" (Sausage too!).
ReplyDeleteDoes it taste like chicken?
ReplyDeleteApparently, Groundhog Day on Feb. 2 is a "cross-quarter" day, about halfway between the winter solstice in December and the vernal equinox in March, and is celebrated in some cultures as the midpoint of winter. It's not far from the time many groundhogs end their hibernation anyway, around the second week of February. (Isn't Google wonderful? You can find anything.)
ReplyDelete