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| Those brown smudges mid-photo are groundhogs in love checking each other out. |
We have seen (and heard) a lot of wildlife around our home this spring:
- eagles in the sky, sometimes several at a time soaring with steady wings
- hawks flying low over tall brown grass looking for a mousey meal
- a porcupine casually nibbling grass
- a hoo-hoo-hoooooting owl
- tree frogs called Peepers have been calling from the forest
- many small birds returning from their winter homes
- geese feeding in pairs and groups
- large groups of gulls after a heavy rain gorging on earthworms
But our favourite sighting this spring? Groundhogs in love.
These animals are basically very large squirrels, known as marmots.
Some humans call them "pests". That's both tragic and funny at the same time.
As far as I know, The Groundhog Empire is not currently threatening the entire planet with nuclear weapons and such.
But who really knows what is down in those underground bunkers of theirs.
However, these rotund roundhogs could do some damage to my garden, if they could actually get in.
I have serious doubts as to whether or not they could manage to wobble/climb into my raised bed.
But I digress. Back to groundhogs girding for love.
She roams around yonder field stuffing dry grass for nest building into her maw. She sports a large, comical straw moustache, but that does not deter her suitor.
Mister Groundhog pretends to be eating a short distance away. But really, he is checking out the object of his affection.
If the two of them are successful, about a month after getting together, the result will be 2 to 10 hungry groundhoglettes.
Little ones venturing out from the burrow will be something else that we will be looking for.
All the wildlife out here in the countryside of Nova Scotia has been a joy, but it doesn't get any better than groundhogs in love.
I think they've got it made, those funny, furry, care-free lovers.
Do they know how good they have it?
Well, well the groundhogs that I've been watching for all these years haven't put on a show quite like the one's in your neck of the woods. I just seem to catch a loner or (a few years) mum with babies. They are never ending entertainment that's for sure. I'm hoping my new neighbor, who is keen on flower gardening, doesn't see them as a threat. It took years of convincing for the old neighbor to stop setting traps for them.
ReplyDeleteI live in an area of the city that is a point between the confluence of two rivers - wonderful area for urban walks - if I have to live in the city this is the place to be.
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