Animal identifier ยท Other mammals
Marmota monax
Fields and woodland edges across the East, Midwest, and much of Canada. The burrow is the sign. Five-toed hind foot, four toes that show on the front.
What does a woodchuck look like?
Chunky brown ground squirrel, much larger than a chipmunk. Also called a groundhog.
What do woodchuck tracks look like?
Look at the hole first. A woodchuck burrow has a porch of dirt. Tracks at the entrance show a walking, flat-footed gait.
- Five-toed hind foot, four toes that show on the front
- Tracks about 1.5 to 2 inches, often at a burrow mouth
- Burrow with a fan of fresh soil, often under a porch or in a field edge
- Flat-footed walking trail
- Brown chunky animal if seen
What does woodchuck poop look like?
Oval pellets in a latrine chamber, rarely in the open. Do not handle droppings. Several species carry parasites that stay in the soil around a latrine.
Where you find it
Fields and woodland edges across the East, Midwest, and much of Canada. The burrow is the sign. Typical places: field, woods, yard. Year-round where the species lives. Tracks show best in mud, sand, and snow.
What to do next
- Watch from a distance
- Do not handle droppings
- If the animal is injured or inside a building, call a local wildlife officer
This page is a field guide, not a permit to approach wildlife. If an animal is injured, aggressive, or inside a house, call a local wildlife officer.
Animals it is confused with
- North American beaver identification
- Raccoon identification
- All animal identification pages
- Identify an animal from a photo, track, or description
What does a woodchuck burrow look like?
A hole with a fan of fresh soil, often in a field edge, fencerow, or under a shed.
How to tell a woodchuck from similar animals
Use the track, the dropping, and the place together. One print is not enough.
- North American beaver. Look for the webbed hind print and the tail drag in mud. Brown, flat scaly tail, webbed hind feet.
- Raccoon. Five fingers. Gray body, black mask, ringed tail.
Woodchuck field marks
- Five-toed hind foot, four toes that show on the front
- Tracks about 1.5 to 2 inches, often at a burrow mouth
- Burrow with a fan of fresh soil, often under a porch or in a field edge
- Flat-footed walking trail
Where the sign shows up
Fields and woodland edges across the East, Midwest, and much of Canada. The burrow is the sign. Typical places: field, woods, yard. Year-round where the species lives. Tracks show best in mud, sand, and snow.
Look at the hole first. A woodchuck burrow has a porch of dirt. Tracks at the entrance show a walking, flat-footed gait. Oval pellets in a latrine chamber, rarely in the open.
Common questions
What does a woodchuck burrow look like?
A hole with a fan of fresh soil, often in a field edge, fencerow, or under a shed.