The answer is “yes,” Groundhogs (Marmota monax) can climb trees, as shown here recently at Cleveland Lakefront Nature Preserve in Cleveland, Ohio.
Why climb a tree? Possibly foraging for mulberry fruit:
BirdingPI.com: answering life’s persistent questions.
Not a grounded hog, that’s for sure. But then again, it isn’t really a ‘hog’, is it?
It’s a chuck! As in ‘Charles,’ apparently.