Alabama may not be the first place that comes to mind when you think of marmots, but the state is home to one of North America’s most fascinating true hibernators. If you’ve ever spotted a stout, grizzled brown animal sunning itself along a fence row or scrambling toward a burrow in northern Alabama, there’s a good chance you were looking at a woodchuck — the only marmot species found in the eastern United States.
Understanding when this animal wakes up, where it lives, and what it does after hibernation can help you appreciate one of Alabama’s quieter wildlife stories. Whether you’re a curious naturalist, a gardener keeping an eye on your vegetable beds, or simply someone who enjoys watching wildlife, this guide walks you through everything you need to know about marmots in Alabama.
Which Marmot Species Live in Alabama
The woodchuck is the only marmot that occurs in the eastern half of the United States. Scientifically known as Marmota monax, it goes by several common names — groundhog, whistle pig, and land beaver among them. The groundhog is exceptional among marmots because it is a lowland animal, while other marmots, such as the yellow-bellied and hoary marmots, live in rocky and mountainous areas.
The woodchuck is the most wide-ranging of North America’s marmots, found from central Alaska east through Canada to Labrador, and in eastern North America south to Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, and Arkansas. Within Alabama specifically, the range is generally confined north of the 33rd parallel…