From Mark Hayes
I’ve never seen a Groundhog (also known as Woodchuck and Whistle Pig) in a tree. It seemed unconcerned that I was only about 20 feet away. This was in my local county park so they are accustomed to humans. I’ve seen this Groundhog before as it dove into a nearby hollow tree as I approached. Another first today.
I can still see you
Putting one’s groundhog up in a tree seems like a good example of security through obscurity. Certainly isn’t the first place I would look!
Groundhogs are indeed squirrels, a fact which Ive been surprising everyone with recently since learning that myself a few weeks ago!
The groundhog, or woodchuck, is one of 14 species of marmots, a subgroup of the squirrel family. One of the largest members, groundhogs live a feast-or- famine lifestyle: they gorge themselves all summer to build up plentiful reserves of fat, then retreat to their underground burrows to snooze through the winter while drawing their sustenance from body fat. During hibernation, the animal’s heart rate plunges, and its body temperature is not much warmer than the temperature inside its burrow. (NatGeo)
Groundhog of the tree, what is your wisdom?
I think they’re on to something with this whole hibernation thing. I could do with a nice long checkout myself… 😴
It is compensating for the Burrowing Owl!
I lived in the middle of three stacked apartments in my early twenties, but had a stairway down to the outside which opened to my own patio. There was a groundhog we called ‘Pete’ or ‘Petey’ that lived under the patio, and it was always nice to see a bit of wildlife so close to the city. Even the landlord didn’t seem to mind his presence. On several occasions, we would find Pete sunbathing on the very top roof, above the third story, with no discernable pathway for him to have climbed up there. This went on for years and no one witnessed his ascent. Only that he would be up there and find himself back down at some point. Pete was a good neighbor, I miss him.
Pete sounds delightful! 😊
Everyone should have at least one quirky animal neighbor.
I’ve been feeding the same bluejays for about 5 years, and one still tries every time to fit 2 whole peanuts in its mouth despite never once being able to do it. Dream big, little buddy! One day you may just find a shell just the right shape to grab that second peanut!
