Woodchuck or Ground Hog? July 2021

There is a simple answer to this question. Both names apply.

Woodchuck

Woodchucks are active in the day and feed on tender, succulent plants.

They den in an extensive burrow with 2 or more openings.

Woodchuck

These burrows can be 4 – 5 feet deep and 25 – 30 feet long.

Woodchuck

Woodchucks hibernate in winter.

Woodchuck

A typical home range is between 40 and 160 acres.

Woodchuck

MYSTERY PLANT

I will identify it at the end of the post.

With a day of rain predicted, I went to Seton Park by the Don River and took as many photos as I could until rain set in.

Some botany:

rain on Crabgrass
White Spruce (Picea glauca)
Alternate-leaved Dogwood (Cornus alternifolia)
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
Basswood (Tilia americana)
Giant Ragweed (Ambrosia trifida)
Dame’s Rocket (Hesperis matronalis)
Tamarack (Larix laricina)
Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus inserta)
Linden (Tilia cordata)
Red Currant (Ribes rubrum)
Goutweed (Aegopodium podagraria)
Soapwort (Saponaria officinalis)
mushrooms
“Dead man’s fingers”
Japanese Beetle on Dog-strangling Vine
Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia)
St. John’s-wort (Hypericum perforatum)
Brome Grass (Bromus inermis)
Spindletree (Euonymus europaea)
Deptford Pink (Dianthus armeria)
Burdock (Arctium)
Honeysuckle (Lonicera)
Prickly Sow-thistle (Sonchus asper)
Canada Thistle (Cirsium pratense)
Field Sow-thistle (Sonchus arvensis)
Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica)
Moth Mullein (Verbascum blattaria)

MYSTERY PLANT

This plant will grow taller and more obvious into September, especially for “hay fever” sufferers: Ragweed.

Ragweed (Ambrosia artemisifolia)

MAILBOX

These photos come from the Gowganda region in Northern Ontario.

Hi Miles,

Thought I could send you some  pictures for a change. I am so excited!

A friend told me about a ‘whip poor will’ he sighted and found 2 eggs; my husband and I went out on ATV’s a week later ( time elapsed due to very wet weather) and were surprised to find that it wasn’t a Whip poor Will but a Nighthawk. I couldn’t find the eggs the first trip and did not stay long to search (  about  4-5minutes) as  I felt  the  temperature was too high and  the eggs were on  bare rock . We went back the next day earlier in the day and found her immediately , she was sitting and beside her a baby chick. I took a few pictures very quickly and left in less than 5 minutes.

NATURE POETRY

How much wood could a woodchuck chuck
If a woodchuck could chuck wood?
As much wood as a woodchuck could chuck,
If a woodchuck could chuck wood. – Mother Goose

Miles Hearn

2 thoughts on “Woodchuck or Ground Hog? July 2021

  1. Lisa Volkov

    Welcome back, Miles! Great pictures of a beautiful place with so many marvelous things!
    And these pictures of what turned out to be a Nighthawk (and chick!) are also really great! Many thanks to the person who sent them to you–and to you, Miles, for sharing them with us!

    Reply
  2. rosemarie fischer

    great pics, had one in my garden about 6 weeks ago,but he/she has not come back…..the exit was under the treehouse,well hidden. Wish it would come back,but I don’t have any veggies in the garden,no incentives for this critter.Maybe next year……

    Reply

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