Groundhog (Marmota monax) is in the Squirrels family (Sciuridae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 46,844 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in May.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: summer visitor / breeder. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Groundhog: observations by month (U.S.)
About Groundhog
The groundhog (Marmota monax), also known as a woodchuck, is a rodent of the family Sciuridae, belonging to the group of large ground squirrels known as marmots. It was first scientifically described by Carl Linnaeus in 1758. The groundhog is also referred to as a chuck, wood-shock, groundpig, whistlepig, whistler, thickwood badger, Canada marmot, monax, moonack, weenusk, and red monk. The name "thickwood badger" was given in the Northwest to distinguish the animal from the prairie...From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Groundhog by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 5,847 | May | Apr–Sep |
| Pennsylvania | 4,944 | June | Apr–Sep |
| Ohio | 4,021 | May | Mar–Oct |
| Maryland | 2,974 | May | Mar–Oct |
| Virginia | 2,715 | May | Mar–Oct |
| New Jersey | 2,636 | September | Apr–Oct |
| Michigan | 2,531 | June | Apr–Sep |
| North Carolina | 2,307 | May | Mar–Oct |
| Massachusetts | 2,059 | June | Apr–Sep |
| Tennessee | 1,702 | May | Mar–Oct |
| Illinois | 1,556 | May | Mar–Oct |
| Missouri | 1,244 | May | Apr–Oct |
| Wisconsin | 1,164 | July | Apr–Sep |
| Indiana | 1,130 | May | Apr–Oct |
| Minnesota | 1,065 | May | Apr–Aug |
| Vermont | 985 | May | Apr–Aug |
| Connecticut | 943 | June | Apr–Sep |
| Maine | 918 | June | Apr–Sep |
| West Virginia | 732 | April | Mar–Oct |
| Kentucky | 634 | May | Mar–Oct |
| Alabama | 631 | May | Mar–Jul |
| New Hampshire | 548 | June | Apr–Sep |
| Georgia | 545 | May | Mar–Oct |
| Arkansas | 521 | May | Mar–Oct |
| Iowa | 480 | May | Apr–Oct |
| South Carolina | 371 | April | Mar–Oct |
| Rhode Island | 349 | June | Apr–Sep |
| Nebraska | 289 | May | Apr–Oct |
| Delaware | 256 | May | Mar–Oct |
| Oklahoma | 251 | April | Mar–Oct |
| Kansas | 191 | May | Mar–Oct |
| District of Columbia | 170 | April | Mar–Oct |
| Mississippi | 50 | May | Mar–Oct |
| South Dakota | 45 | May | Apr–Aug |
| North Dakota | 22 | June | May–Sep |
| Alaska | 17 | May | May–Jul |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related mammals (Squirrels)
Eastern Gray Squirrel
Eastern Fox Squirrel
Eastern Chipmunk
California Ground Squirrel
American Red Squirrel
Common Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel
Western Gray Squirrel
Yellow-bellied Marmot
Photography tips
- Keep a legal and safe distance: 100 yards from bears and wolves and 25 yards from other large animals in national parks.
- Dawn and dusk are peak activity times for most mammals.
- Use your car as a blind on wildlife drives.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Groundhog?
Nationally, May has the most observations, with the main season from March to October.
Where is Groundhog most often seen?
The most observations come from New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio.