Arboreal foraging and palability of tree leaves to woodchucks [Alimention arborée et palabilité des feuilles des arbres pour les marmottes des bois].

Résumé

We observed several instances of consumption of tree leaves by woodchucks (Marmota monax). Leaves of hackberry (Celtis occidentalis), Norway maple (Acer platanoides), peach (Prunus persica) and red mulberry (Morus rubra) were eaten. A comparison of the palatability of leaves to that of five species of common ground-cover vegetation indicated that leaves of red mulberry were highly palatable to woodchucks, whereas leaves of Norway maple were unpalatable. Peach and hackberry leaves were low to intermediate in palatability relative to the other species tested, Nearly alI previous reports of woodchucks climbing trees were attributed to predator avoidance or to sunning/resting behavior. Our results suggest that tree climbing by woodchucks also occurs because of dietary considerations.