Groundhog Behavior and Hibernation Facts

The video explores Groundhog Day, focusing on Punxsutawney Phil, a famous groundhog in Pennsylvania. It explains the significance of February 2nd and the tradition of predicting winter's length based on Phil's shadow. The video delves into groundhog characteristics, their rodent family, and the unique feature of continuously growing incisors. It covers their diet, which includes plants and small insects, and their burrow habitats. The concept of hibernation is explained, highlighting how groundhogs conserve energy by lowering their heart rate and body temperature. The video concludes with a call for viewer engagement.

What is the significance of Groundhog Day in the United States?

• It marks the start of spring.

• It is a celebration of a famous groundhog's birthday.

• It is a day to predict the length of winter.

• It is a festival for all rodents.

What is unique about the incisors of rodents like groundhogs?

• They are only for decoration.

• They are used for digging.

• They grow continuously.

• They fall out every year.

Why do groundhogs gnaw on wood?

• To build their homes.

• To find food inside the wood.

• To keep their teeth from growing too long.

• To communicate with other groundhogs.

What is the primary diet of groundhogs?

• Only insects.

• Wood and bark.

• Plants like grasses, berries, and nuts.

• Meat and fish.

Where do groundhogs typically live and raise their families?

• In trees.

• In nests on the ground.

• In long underground tunnels called burrows.

• In water bodies.

What happens to a groundhog's heart rate during hibernation?

• It increases significantly.

• It stops completely.

• It remains the same.

• It slows down to as few as four or five beats a minute.

How does a groundhog's body temperature change during hibernation?

• It stays at 37 degrees Celsius.

• It rises to match the outside temperature.

• It drops to about 5 degrees Celsius.

• It fluctuates wildly.

Why do groundhogs eat a lot during the fall?

• To impress other groundhogs.

• To store food in their burrows.

• To build up fat for energy during hibernation.

• To prepare for migration.

When do groundhogs typically come out of hibernation?

• In the middle of winter.

• At the start of summer.

• From October to March.

• In early spring.

What does it mean if Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow on February 2nd?

• Spring will arrive early.

• It will rain for the next week.

• There will be six more weeks of winter.

• Summer is coming soon.