The groundhog, Marmota monax, is a stout rodent related to squirrels and marmots. It has short ears and a short tail. Its front feet have long, curved claws that are good for digging the complex ...

Their overall fur colorings are strikingly similar, but you should pay close attention to their feet. Groundhogs maintain brown or black feet to match their fur, while gophers have pink legs.