The groundhog, also known as the snow pig or marmot, is the largest species in the squirrel family. It mainly inhabits grassland areas. The entire body of the groundhog is valuable, as the meat, bones, and oil can all be used in medicine, with a wide range of medicinal uses.
Morphological Characteristics
If you observe a groundhog up close, you will see that it is a very strong animal. An adult male can grow up to about 60 centimeters in length, resembling a dog.
Habits
In terms of habits, the groundhog is similar to a rabbit in that it digs burrows as its home and does not eat the grass near its burrow.
However, unlike rabbits, groundhogs are actually omnivorous. They eat various plants, as well as capture insects and even hunt small rodents.
Habitat Distribution
The groundhog's territory is quite large, so don't be deceived by the prefix in its name.
The groundhog is not only active on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, but also in regions such as Gansu, Qilian Mountains, Xinjiang, and Qinghai.
In addition, groundhogs are also found in foreign countries such as western Mongolia, northern India, Nepal, and Bhutan.
Growth and Reproduction
In terms of reproduction, groundhogs are also very prolific. With abundant food resources, a female groundhog can give birth to up to nine offspring at a time (usually four).
In addition, groundhogs mature at an early age, posing a threat to the grassland environment. Therefore, this cute animal is not protected and requires annual special control and prevention measures.
Application Value
Aside from the damage groundhogs cause to grasslands, they are actually animals of high economic value and can even be described as "a treasure trove".
The most valuable part of a groundhog is its fur, which is rich and elastic, making it excellent fur material. Therefore, complete groundhog skins are very valuable. In addition, groundhog meat also has certain therapeutic effects, while groundhog bones and oil can be used in medicine.
