The age-old question, “How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?” has intrigued many. Let’s dive into the facts behind this popular tongue twister and explore the real habits of these fascinating creatures.
Woodchucks, also known as groundhogs, land beavers, or whistling pigs depending on the region, are native to North America, including North Carolina where they can be found on the NIEHS campus. Despite their name, woodchucks don’t actually “chuck” wood. The term “woodchuck” is believed to be derived from the Algonquin Native American word “wuchak”. Early English settlers likely mispronounced or anglicized the term, resulting in the name we use today.
A Woodchuck parent, demonstrating typical behavior unrelated to wood chucking.
Unlike beavers, woodchucks are herbivores, primarily feeding on tender plants. They favor soft vegetation over tough bark and trees. So, while they might be found near wooded areas, they aren’t gnawing away at logs.
While woodchucks don’t chuck wood, they are expert diggers. They “chuck” dirt when creating their extensive underground burrow systems. These burrows serve as shelter and protection from predators, and also provide spaces to nest and hibernate.
In 1988, Richard Thomas, a New York Fish and Wildlife technician, tackled the question of how much a woodchuck would chuck if it could chuck wood. Thomas cleverly used the amount of dirt displaced during burrow construction as a stand-in for wood. Woodchuck burrows consist of long tunnels, often 25 to 30 feet in length, leading to various chambers used for different purposes: a summer den, a winter den for hibernation, and even a bathroom.
Thomas estimated the average woodchuck burrow to be approximately 35 square feet. He then multiplied this area by the approximate weight of soil per square foot, roughly 20 pounds. This calculation led to the conclusion that a woodchuck “chucks” about 700 pounds of soil when building its burrow.
Woodchuck kits near their burrow entrance, highlighting their habitat creation skills.
The Verdict: The myth is busted! Woodchucks don’t chuck wood. However, if we’re talking about dirt instead, the answer is roughly 700 pounds, a figure that’s perhaps not as catchy as the original tongue twister, but certainly more grounded in reality.
