Overview
- Punxsutawney Phil and other groundhogs are set to surface on February 2 for the annual folk forecast ritual.
- Groundhogs are true hibernators that stop eating in winter as body temperature, heart rate, and breathing plunge.
- Researchers report early February activity aligns with males roaming to locate potential mates rather than predicting spring.
- Burrow systems feature multiple chambers and exits, with tunnels typically stretching 20 to 45 feet underground.
- Herbivorous groundhogs can consume over a pound of vegetation in one sitting, and their incisors grow about 1/16 inch per week.