How Much Wood Could A Woodchuck Chuck?
Today, we are going to answer the famous question, “how much wood could a woodchuck chuck?” This is a popular tongue-twister that does not necessarily ask for a substantial answer.
Usually, this tongue-twister is answered using a similar, witty response. But today, we are going to use some calculated analysis to find out the answer to this question.
Woodchucks, also known as groundhogs or simply chucks, are herbivorous rodents. The name “woodchuck” originated from indigenous American words with similar pronunciations.
In this article, we attempt to scientifically figure out how much wood a woodchuck could possibly chuck. Without further ado, let’s move on!
Do Woodchucks Really Chuck Wood?
No, woodchucks don’t really chuck wood. Chucking is mostly considered tampering with the wood in order to consume it. But woodchucks or groundhogs do not consume wood at all.
Instead of wood, they consume wildflowers, insects, clovers, chickweeds, and different types of grasses as food. Besides, they also consume certain fruits like cherries, blackberries, etc. The only thing remotely similar to wood that they eat is tree bark. But even that does not count as barks are merely the outer covering of the wood component of plants.
Another term for “chucking” here is to throw the wood. Now, in this case, it is possible for a woodchuck to chuck the wood to some extent. However, it won’t be too effective as they do not have strong paws. They do have sharp claws, but they mostly use them to dig the ground.
So if you are wondering whether or not can a woodchuck chuck wood, yes, they can. But they are not prone to doing it under normal circumstances.
How Much Wood Could A Woodchuck Chuck?
Now, although woodchucks don’t really chuck wood, they do dig away dirt/earth. From here, an estimation can be made by comparing wood with earth.
The estimation states that, in the process of digging a hole in the ground, a woodchuck can chuck approximately 700 pounds or 318 kilograms on a regular, uninterrupted attempt. This assumption was made by comparing the amount of dirt chucked by a groundhog (approximately 1.3 cubic yards) while doing the same activity.
If it really were wood instead of debris, the groundhogs couldn’t have set such a record. It’s because although they are active animals, they are simply not skilled enough to break apart that amount of wood. With real wood, the amount would be much lesser in comparison.
The calculated estimation of wood/dirt replacement was conducted by wildlife specialist Richard Thomas. There are also some other studies conducted on this matter. However, this one is the most reliable and widely used.
Ways To Keep Woodchucks Away
Woodchucks might not be able to destroy your wooden essentials completely. But they do have the unwanted habit of nibbling at wooden components. To keep the woodchucks away from your precious items, follow these tips.
- Using Mothballs
A mothball is a mixture of chemical insecticides or naphthalene. This rounded substance can keep mold and insects away. It is often used against groundhogs as well.
You may ask, how long will mothballs keep groundhogs away? We have to admit that it isn’t much effective in the long run. However, it is an easy method to get rid of them temporarily. If you don’t want to spend much on expensive repellents or methods, you can opt for this.
- Using Odor
For this method, you have to figure out what smells do groundhogs hate. Some of the common odors we have found in our research are Garlic, Lavender, Pepper, etc. Some even suggest using animal urine to serve the purpose. Groundhogs despise the odor of all the mentioned substances.
- Using Gum
If you want to get rid of them permanently, killing groundhogs with gum is an option. According to this suggestion, if you put gum on their burrows, they end up consuming it. But after consumption, they die from the adhesion in their organs. This suggestion is merely a theory and not well-proved.
Final Words
In case you were curious about how much wood could a woodchuck chuck, your question has been thoroughly answered. Although this is more of a fun question that doesn’t actually expect a concrete answer, it is natural to get curious about it. Not only did we answer your question but also added some helpful information. We hope you enjoyed this article! Good luck!
