Groundhog vs Badger: The Battle of the Burrowers
Groundhogs and badgers are small mammals that have few similarities but many differences. Both animals have grayish looks and mainly reside underground by digging their own dens. These are the main similarities between these animals. In this article, we are going to compare them in detail. In the end, you will be quite clear about which animal has an edge over other animal overall and who can win the fight if they encounter each other. Let’s have a brief introduction about these animals.
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Groundhogs
Groundhogs or Marmota monax belong to the rodent family. Groundhogs are also very well-known as woodchucks. They belong to the group of squirrels which is overall known as marmots. They like to reside in the low-lying or underground areas of North America. These animals are abundant in the eastern side of the United State of America, across all the Canada, and also somewhere in Alaska.
They like to graze a lot to meet the needs for their food. Groundhogs reside all over every nook and corner of the world. There is no specific area where they are specifically found. A holiday has been named in their honor.
Groundhogs are the biggest mammals in the squirrel family. They mainly like to reside in forest and savannas type areas. They had also adjusted themselves in rural areas when natural areas were turned into farmlands. Nowadays, they have also adapted themselves to the vacant lots, backyards, and open spaces of suburban areas.
Badgers
Badgers belong to the mustelid family which also has other animals like otters, ferrets, etc. They like to hunt down animals to fulfilling the needs for their food. These are the mascot for party schools. They are bigger than groundhogs and also weigh more than groundhogs. They have short but muscular and sturdy body structures. They like to do a lot of digging. Badgers like to reside in open fields, grasslands, clay soil, and sandy environments.
groundhog Vs badger – Main Differences
There are many differences between these animals but key differences between these animals come in terms of their size, food, weight, and method of attack. Let’s discuss the differences between these animals one by one.
| Characteristics | Badger | Groundhogs |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 9 to 11-inch height 20 inches length | 8 to 10-inch height 10-15 inches in length |
| Speed | 19 mph | 10 mph |
| Weight | 12 kg | 4 kg |
| Lifespan | 10-12 years | 15 to 20 years |
Size: Groundhog vs badger
Groundhogs are a few inches shorter than badgers. They are also wider than badgers. The height of the badger is 9 to 11 inches while they have much more length.
Weight: groundhogs vs badgers
When it comes to weight, badgers are 4 to 5 times heavier than groundhogs. The weight of the groundhog is almost 4 kg while the weight of the badger is almost 12 kg.
Speed: badger vs groundhog
Badgers also have an upper hand when it comes to speed. The speed of the badger is almost 19 mph while the speed of the groundhog is 10 mph. Despite having big size and more weight, the badger is very agile and shows great speed in the field.
Lifespan: Badgers vs groundhogs
The lifespan of groundhogs is higher than badgers. On average, Groundhogs can easily live 15 to 20 years in the wilderness while badgers have just a lifespan of 10 to 12 years in the wilderness. Thus, we can say that groundhogs have an edge over badgers when it comes to lifespan.
Also, read our article for Dachshund Vs Badger
Groundhogs vs badgers: who would be the ultimate winner?
In simple words, I would say the badgers would be the ultimate winner because they have an upper hand in most of the properties as compared to Groundhogs. Badgers are more heavy and more agile at the same time as compared to Groundhogs. They can strike very powerfully and quickly.
On the other hand, groundhogs might try to manipulate the strike of badgers but they could not survive for a longer period. Being omnivore animals, badgers also dig a lot in search of their prey. Sometimes, they block the overall tunnel of the underground den for capturing their prey like squirrels, groundhogs, voles, mice, and moles.
Badgers are actually among the main predators of groundhogs. Thus, we can estimate from this comparison that badgers could easily overpower and ultimately kill groundhogs.
What is the difference between groundhogs and woodchucks?
There is no difference between groundhogs and woodchucks. There are a lot of people who are actually confused about them. According to wiki machine, woodchucks are the same animal as groundhogs. The name woodchuck has been actually derived from the word “wuchuk”. There is actually no direct relationship between woodchucks and the wood of the trees. It is just a name.
Frequently asked questions
Conclusion
Groundhogs and badgers are small mammals that belong to altogether different families. There is no major similarity between these animals. However, if they encounter each other then you must keep in mind that the groundhogs are the main source of food for the badgers. We have tried our best to make a good comparison between these animals. I hope you will this article very useful.
Izzy is an experienced ranch worker who has a passion for exploring nature and getting up close to wildlife. With her connections to various animal organizations, Izzy is well-versed in animal care and rehabilitation.
