nice capture, bob. it looks like he stopped to pose for you.

maryanne

The poor thing was groggy. It tried to make a turn and it almost rolled over on its side. Then it was chewing on some weeds and its eyes were beginning to close.

It has one major hole at the edge of the woods on my lawn and it has refused to give it up. I tried to fill it with rocks and dirt a couple of years ago but it cleared them out. I have to drive around it when I mow the lawn with the tractor.

Back and looking very healthy and happy. At first I thought it was a really fat squirrel, but it's a groundhog, right?

I guess he couldn't wait until friday!!

bob, they are crafty little guys aren't they? from what i learned after noting our area was inundated with them, even if you fill up one hole, there are about 4 or 5 other openings leading to their dens.

we were overrun with them this last year when all the streets were being dug up to repair/replace pipes. i guess i was oblivious to them all my life because it was a rarity to see one. that year, they seemed to be everywhere. i followed one guy who never seemed to change his pattern much, but then again, didn't stay out in the light for too long either.

sad too, because i used to blame this rotten squirrel for eating all my corn until i found out it was these guys.

gotta love nature, though!

maryanne

Carol:

Yes, that little poker is a groundhog.

maryanne:

We have groundhogs everywhere out here. I've only had 1 problem with one. I have a pipe leading from the heating system--I think that is the source. One of the young ones used it as a hiding place when it was scared and away from its home holes. I have to put a cap with holes over it. Other than that, these hogs have only been an amusement for me. It is moving from 1 hole to another but only within about 10 feet of its holes so far. Its still sleepy I guess.

Sorry groundhog. I meant to type "porker" not "poker."

I have a way of keeping ground hogs from using an existing hole. I shoot the ground hog and bury its body in its hole. It remains unused.

If you can't shoot them just throw a cup of gasoline in the hole. Wait about 5 seconds and throw a match in the hole. You will hear one blast for each entrance to the hole and not see the ground hog anymore. Be careful to avoid the backflash that comes out of the hole.

Now that I have done this, none of the ground hog holes are being used. However, I have one living under an old outhouse, one living under my patio slab, and one living in my barn. I am waiting to get a good shot at them.

The Question is: Did Mr. Groundhog see its shadow today?

This goundhog is busy fising its holes. Today, it came out in the woods, saw its shadow, and moved off into the woods to find some food. I think it will find its food near its holes until the weather warms up. After that, it will go off into the fields.