<Dd> if a woodchuck could chuck wood! </Dd> <P> The groundhog prefers open country and the edges of woodland, and is rarely far from a burrow entrance . Since the clearing of forests provided it with a much more suitable habitat, the groundhog population is probably higher now than it was before the arrival of European settlers in North America . Groundhogs are often hunted for sport, which tends to control their numbers . However, their ability to reproduce quickly has tended to mitigate the depopulating effects of sport hunting . As a consequence, the groundhog is a familiar animal to many people in the United States and Canada . </P> <P> In the wild, groundhogs can live up to six years with two or three being average . In captivity, groundhogs reportedly live from 9 to 14 years . Common predators for groundhogs include wolves, cougars, coyotes, foxes, bobcats, bears, eagles, and dogs . Young groundhogs are often at risk for predation by snakes, which easily enter the burrow . Man, the domestic dog, and the red fox, in the order named, are the chief enemies of the groundhog . In areas of intensive agriculture and dairying regions of the state of Wisconsin, particularly the southern parts, the woodchuck by 1950 had been almost extirpated . Jackson (1961) suggested the amount of damage done by the woodchuck had been exaggerated and that excessive persecution by people substantially reduced its numbers in Wisconsin . In some areas marmots are important game animals and are killed regularly for sport, food, or fur . In Kentucky an estimated 267,500 M. monax were taken annually from 1964 to 1971 (Barbour and Davis 1974) </P> <P> The time spent observing groundhogs by field biologists represents only a small fraction of time devoted to the field research . W.J. Schoonmaker reports that groundhogs may hide when they see, smell or hear the observer . Ken Armitage, marmot researcher, states that the social biology of the groundhog is well understudied . Despite their heavy - bodied appearance, groundhogs are accomplished swimmers and occasionally climb trees when escaping predators or when they want to survey their surroundings . They prefer to retreat to their burrows when threatened; if the burrow is invaded, the groundhog tenaciously defends itself with its two large incisors and front claws . Groundhogs are generally agonistic and territorial among their own species, and may skirmish to establish dominance . Outside their burrow, individuals are alert when not actively feeding . It is common to see one or more nearly - motionless individuals standing erect on their hind feet watching for danger . When alarmed, they use a high - pitched whistle to warn the rest of the colony, hence the name "whistle - pig". Groundhogs may squeal when fighting, seriously injured, or caught by a predator . Other sounds groundhogs may make are low barks and a sound produced by grinding their teeth . When groundhogs are frightened, the hairs of the tail stand straight up, giving the tail the appearance of a hair brush . David P. Barash wrote he witnessed only two occasions of upright play - fighting among woodchucks and that the upright posture of play - fighting involves sustained physical contact between individuals and may require a degree of social tolerance virtually unknown in M. monax . He said it was possible to conclude, alternatively, that upright play - fighting is part of the woodchuck's behavioral repertory but rarely shown because of physical spacing and / or low social tolerance . </P>

What is the average life expectancy of a groundhog