Groundhogs, also known as woodchucks, hiss, growl, bark, shriek and chatter their teeth loudly. Most of their vocalizations are used for communicating with other woodchucks. Groundhogs live in highly social societies, and individuals use their vocalizations to mark their territories, warn each other of predators and conduct other social rituals.
Groundhogs also deposit secretions from glands near their face and anal regions on prominent objects in their territory. Groundhogs are found throughout most of the Northern United States and Canada. They are most often found in low elevation forests, fields, pastures and agricultural areas, according to the Adirondack Ecological Center.
