Now day (February. 2), Groundhog will not foretell the weather.

Woodchucks (Marmota monax) is a vegetarian that lives in the mud of the North American mouse with a volume of "put up" dogs. In some parts of the United States, the custom States that a certain Groundhog contains the right to foretell the duration of winter weather. If in a given year, Punxsutawney Phil (the name given to the Groundhog in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania) will notice its shadow, the idea goes, will be another 6 months of winter weather. In case he doesn't notice his own shadow, spring will come early. Of course, neither Phil nor any other Groundhog has the ability to foretell the weather. It's an interesting idea, isn't it?

In any case, actually that will create marmots, of which are not kept in captivity because of the unusual secular holidays, if the winter circumstances persist until March? [6 unbridled methods of influence of the moon on animals]

The answer, as it turned out, is quite simple: keep dozing.

Marmots are the deepest hibernators, consistent with the New-york state Institute of ecology and forestry (ESF). They chew before frost, accumulating fat, then enter the winter burrows, lower the heart rate and pull almost all movements in order to stretch out the cool months. In the direction of this period, their heart rate drops from about 80 beats per minute to 4 or 5, and the body heat falls from 98 degrees Fahrenheit (37 degrees Celsius) to 38 F (3 C).

In one study in 1967, published in the journal Ecology, it was found, in fact, that the unavailability of food, not frost, is actually considered the main point, causing hibernation. Scientists have noticed, in fact, that marmots offered in the food will be intense, including at cool temperatures 42 F (6 C), while the food is not completed. But marmots who do not have beloved snacks, quickly fall into a stupor.

But there's nothing to worry about. Marmots are not trifles. Scientists have noticed that, but marmots in nature are usually obliged to spend the winter (alternating more functional States of "excitement" and "torpor") in their own dens only 3 or 4 months, in laboratory criteria marmots have the opportunity to winter up to 8 months.