Despite their similarities, gophers and groundhogs belong to two different classes of rodents. ADVERTISEMENT. Gophers are much smaller than groundhogs, weighing about 2 and 12 pounds, respectively. The groundhog is also known as a woodchuck. Both gophers and woodchucks love to eat. At night the raccoons would come raid the compost. Gopherita tunne However, the 36 species of pocket (or true) gopher all share some specific traits that set them apart from groundhogs. And where do woodchucks and whistle-pigs fit in? Groundhog vs. Gopher Groundhog devine cunocut ub numele de veriunea nord-americană a woodchuck care provine din aceeași locație care are un corp gro și … Many gophers have pink feet, while groundhogs tend to have dark brown or black feet. Gophers construct burrow systems underground with an elaborate tunnel network. Homeowners are most likely to actually observe groundhogs, as gophers spend very little time aboveground. But what is the difference between a groundhog and a gopher? Gopher becomes known as the rodent that lives in burrows and has a fur-lined pouch just on the outer surface of the cheek and mostly gets located in the North and Central American regions. Gophers and woodchucks have two favorite activities in common. Gophers love to dig because they have relatively large and sharp front claws while the woodchucks only have uniformly sized front and rear claws. Gophers are smaller than woodchucks. Gophers are not in the squirrel family, they are in an entirely different family of rodents known as Geomyidae, which includes the beaver. Among those considered to be the pests or enemies of humankind are the gopher and woodchuck. And woodchucks sleep from October to March while the gophers sleep only during the cold, winter months. Furthermore, the teeth of gophers are brown to yellow in color and the large incisors protrude out from the mouth. The name gopher is also commonly applied to other squirrels like the Richardson ground squirrel. Taxonomically, there is none; both names refer to a burrowing rodent of the marmot family, Marmota monax.In New England, however — where residents can count on at least six more weeks of winter after February 2, no matter what some groundhog in Punxsutawney, thinks — the … A: The big groundhog is about 24 times heavier than the little gopher. Woodchucks are also lucky to be able to live from 4 to 6 years while the gophers are only able to live within a year. Both gophers and woodchucks are gray or brown in color. Groundhog burrows can have two or more entrances and a main hole around 20cm in diameter. Like groundhogs, gophers kick up a lot of soil to make a burrowed home. DifferenceBetween.net. Gophers are not as bold. They are of the genus marmota, characterized by thick, powerful bodies, flat heads and strong claws. Who wouldn’t be tempted to sleep during the cold or freezing days? 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. Gophers have a rat-like tail while woodchucks have furry tails. There are around 35 gopher species live on the earth and they are classified into five genera. Kangaroo rats, kangaroo mice, and pocket mice are the other members of their family. Groudhogs are also known as gophers, marmots, prairie dogs, woodchucks, and whistle pigs. Groundhog vs. Gopher El raig de moro e coneix com la verió nord-americana del woodchuck que ’origina a la mateixa ubicació que té un co gruixut i une came curte que ditingeixen aqueta marmota. The term gopher has often been applied to ground squirrels and other non-gopher species, making it a little difficult to do a proper comparison. When it comes to gnawing, the woodchucks are better experts since they gnaw wiring structures with their very sharp teeth. and updated on March 4, 2013, Difference Between Similar Terms and Objects, Differences Between a Gopher and a Woodchuck, Differences Between Fraternity And Sorority, Difference Between Gophers and Ground squirrels, Difference Between Armadillo and Anteater, Difference Between Armadillo and Pangolin, Difference Between Wild Turkey and Turkey Vulture, Difference Between Vitamin D and Vitamin D3, Difference Between LCD and LED Televisions, Difference Between Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates, Difference Between Civil War and Revolution. Accordingly, the size of the burrows is larger in groundhogs than in gophers. Pocket gophers live a subterranean lifestyle as woodchucks do, according to the University of Michigan’s Animal Diversity Web, but they are smaller than woodchucks are. Please note: comment moderation is enabled and may delay your comment. They eat most anything especially seeds and plants; they even chew on wood which is food for them. Gophers and woodchucks are pesky in their own ways. But some are from the family Scuridae, which are squirrel-like rodents, and some are from the family Geomyidae, which are beaver-like rodents. Gophers and woodchucks have small eyes and ears. Although small, gophers can pack quite a bite, though, and will defend themselves if cornered. March 4, 2013 < http://www.differencebetween.net/science/nature/animals-nature/differences-between-a-gopher-and-a-woodchuck/ >. They feed on the underground parts of plants, such as the roots and tubers. Gopher Holes vs. Mole Holes. The differing common names likely come from different etymologies from around the world. gopher vs groundhog stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images Marmot symbol Round shield with the groundhog (or similar rodent) and tape labels. 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