Editing Groundhog (section)

===Reproduction===
Groundhogs are considered the most [[Sociality#Presociality|solitary]] of the [[Marmot|marmot species]]. They live in aggregations, and their social organization also varies across [[populations]]. Groundhogs do not form stable, long-term pair-bonds, and during [[mating season]] male-female interactions are limited to [[copulation (zoology)|copulation]]. In [[Ohio]], adult males and females associate with each other throughout the year and often from year to year.<ref name="mating system">{{Cite journal |last1=Maher |first1=Christine R. |last2=Duron |first2=Melissa |date=June 16, 2010 |title=Mating system and paternity in woodchucks (Marmota monax) |journal=Journal of Mammalogy |volume=91 |issue=3 |pages=628–635 |doi=10.1644/09-MAMM-A-324.1 |s2cid=56472630 |doi-access=free}}</ref><ref name="Kwiecinski" /> Usually groundhogs [[biological reproduction|breed]] in their second year, but a small proportion may breed in their first. The [[breeding season]] extends from early March to mid- or late April, after hibernation. Woodchucks are polygynous<ref name=ADW/> but only alpine and woodchuck marmot females have been shown to mate with multiple males.<ref name="mating system"/> A mated pair remains in the same den throughout the 31- to 32-day [[gestation period]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20100619014532/http://www.ncwildlife.org//Wildlife_Species_Con/Profiles/woodchuck.pdf Woodchuck. ''Marmota monax'']. (PDF). North Carolina Wildlife.</ref> As birth of the young approaches in April or May, the male leaves the den. One litter is produced annually. Female woodchucks give birth to one to nine offspring, with most litters ranging between 3 and 5 pups.<ref name=ADW/> Groundhog mothers introduce their young to the wild once their fur is grown in and they can see. At this time, if at all, the father groundhog comes back to the family.<ref name="Seton1928"/>{{rp|316}} By the end of August, the family breaks up; or at least, the larger number scatter, to burrow on their own.<ref name="Seton1928"/>{{rp|318}}