Critters of the Week
Critters of the Week
A wild critter we spotted in the RVA area and a critter up for adoption by SPCA or RACC.
Where Spotted: Southbank of Tyler P. Potterfield Bridge
Common Name: Woodchuck, Groundhog, Whistle Pig (which is awesome) also Brush Otter (nobody but me calls it a Brush Otter but I’d like it to catch on)
Scientific Name: Marmota monax monax
Length: 16 and 20 inches in length with a tail that is four to seven inches in length
Weight: 5 – 10 lbs
Quick Facts (Courtesy of National Wildlife Federation)
- The groundhogs burrow is called a sette (pronounced set).
- Woodchuck burrows, which the animals dig as much as 6 feet deep, can meander underground for 20 feet or more, usually with two entrances but in some cases with nearly a dozen.
- During warm seasons, a groundhog may pack in more than a pound of vegetation at one sitting, which is much like a 150-pound man scarfing down a 15-pound steak.
- Groundhogs are among the few animals that are true hibernators, fattening up in the warm seasons and snoozing for most of three months during the chill times.
- The heart rate of a hibernating woodchuck slows from about 80 beats per minute to 5.
- To accommodate its bodacious appetite, woodchucks grow upper and lower incisors that can withstand wear and tear because they grow about a sixteenth of an inch each week.
Jan from Richmond SPCA
Jan is a demure gal that adores being talked to. She is affectionate by nature but with a zany side of exploring. She sure hopes that today is her lucky day when the two of you can meet and hopefully (paws crossed) you can take her home!Age: 7 years, 4 months
Gender: Spayed Female
Color: Black
Declawed: No
ID: 15936841
Please note that the adoptable critter we’ve selected was available when we created the post the animal might not be available when you go to the facility.
