Marmot vs. Groundhog Habitats and Hibernation Patterns

This yellow-bellied marmot is comfortable at Yosemite National Park, California. Alice Cahill / Getty Images

Ah, the great marmot vs. groundhog distinction. These two burrowing, chubby members of the squirrel family that are often mistaken for the same animal.

But hold on! While they might look alike, they are actually distinct species with unique behaviors, habitats, and adaptations. If you've ever wondered whether Punxsutawney Phil has a long-lost cousin in the Rocky Mountains, you're in for a treat.

Marmots and groundhogs belong to the rodent family and share traits with other ground squirrels, including their love for digging and their seasonal cycles. But not all marmots are groundhogs, and their differences become clearer when you look at where they live, how they survive the winter and what they do when they're not snoozing underground.

Habitat Preferences

One of the biggest differences between these burrowing rodents is their choice of home turf.

Groundhogs live in lowland habitats like forests, fields and pastures, where they have plenty of access to tasty vegetation and soft soil for burrowing. If you've ever spotted a groundhog poking its head out of a hole in your backyard, you already know they're quite comfortable near human settlements.

Meanwhile, yellow-bellied marmots and other marmot species are found in higher elevations, such as alpine meadows and rocky mountain slopes. Unlike their lowland relatives, marmots prefer rugged, open terrain where they can bask in the sun while keeping an eye out for predators.

So, while groundhogs tend to dig in suburban areas, marmots are more likely to be spotted in national parks and high-altitude wilderness.

Hibernation and Seasonal Survival

Groundhogs hibernate in deep burrows for several months during the winter, lowering their body temperature and heart rate to conserve energy. This helps them survive harsh, food-scarce conditions until spring arrives.

Marmots and groundhogs both hibernate, but marmots take it to another level. Living in colder, high-altitude regions, marmots need to prepare for even longer, harsher winters.

Unlike groundhogs, which can occasionally wake up and move around in their burrows, marmots enter a deep, prolonged hibernation, relying entirely on their fat reserves to make it through the season.

Marmot vs. Groundhog Winter Preparation

fat groundhog eating — This groundhog is taking bulk season seriously as he chows down before winter. Photofex_AUT / Shutterstock

Neither groundhogs nor marmots store food to eat during hibernation, but that doesn't mean they aren't busy preparing.

Throughout the warmer months, both marmots and groundhogs spend their time eating as much as possible to build up fat reserves. This stored energy keeps them alive through the winter while they remain in their burrows.

However, since marmots live in colder environments, they often have to gain more weight than their groundhog cousins. This is why you'll often see them lounging around in the sun during summer — soaking up warmth and packing on the pounds before the big sleep.

Groundhogs, on the other hand, may still be active later into the fall before retreating underground.

Close Relatives in the Rodent Family

While groundhogs and marmots might get all the attention, they aren't the only burrowing rodents in the squirrel family. Prairie dogs, for example, are also part of this group, but they live in social colonies rather than solitary burrows. Although they look a bit different from groundhogs and marmots, all of these animals share common ancestors and similar survival strategies.

So, while Punxsutawney Phil might get all the fame every February, he's just one of many remarkable rodents in this fascinating family. Whether they're burrowing in lowland habitats or lounging in alpine meadows, both marmots and groundhogs play an important role in their ecosystems.

We created this article in conjunction with AI technology, then made sure it was fact-checked and edited by a HowStuffWorks editor.