Please note that there are a couple of strange, unexplainable blank gaps as you scroll down. I would try to start over but have no confidence that it would solve the problem which in any case may not appear in the version that my readers see, so….apologies….
It was no doubt our unusually cool spring that delayed the emergence of groundhogs this year.
Normally we see them by the end of March but this year it was not until April 16th.
Before long though, they were scurrying about refreshing their burrows and soon it was obvious that there were babies, so we waited excitedly for a first sighting.
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In the meantime we’d discovered a large hole in front of the hedges. Chipmunks have escape hatches dotted around, but they are much smaller, so we were puzzled.
This was too big for chipmunks, too small for other furry creatures but just the right size for a human ankle to break itself.
To safeguard against that eventuality, I placed one of the water bowls beside the hole as a reminder not to place my foot in it.
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Friday morning I was watching the starlings when suddenly a little brown nose emerged from a clump of grass.
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And then a second one.
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Clearly Mum had told her babies about carrots.
Late arrivals they may be but this year’s babies are tiny.
By now you realise that I am besotted with animals and baby animals in particular, so you know that during the summer months you can expect an abundance of such images.
If you follow my blog, presumably you have similar interests, so I hope you won’t mind!
On Saturday the poor little tykes got wet.
But they seemed unbothered and at least it was relatively warm rain.
We’d wondered how many babies there were and soon number three turned up.
Followed on Sunday by…
Grant called out to me that the fourth baby had appeared but then he saw an adult groundhog seize one of the babies and make off with it. We’d never seen this behaviour before, we kept watch and that is when I shot this video.
It looked a little rough…
“Critiquing my mothering skills?”
Well, no, never!
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Remember that hole? It’s the perfect size for baby groundhogs. One promptly fell down it, setting Grant to worrying, so I sliced up some carrots and went out to check but there was no stranded baby crying for help and soon we saw that they were climbing in and out quite happily as you can see above.
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As we watched last year’s babies, we noticed that two were always together while the others were more independent and it looks as if we have another set of twins.
My interpretation of mother’s behaviour is that the other two babies had not yet been given approval for an outing!
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These look like naughty children to me.
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“What’s a mother to do?”
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“I’m watching you!”
It will not surprise you that I have more photos….
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Baby groundhogs, and on video! HOORAY for that. 😊
Best wishes, Pete.
Thank you, Carolyn, for your generosity in providing us with the wonderful photos and video that made me happy! You are great and kind!
Joanna
They’re adorable !
Oh my goodness! Your baby groundhogs are adorable!
So fun to watch the videos, as well!
Thank you for sharing.
Catherine
Great pictures, and no gaps!
Oh, those baby groundhog videos are a delight!
Oh my, the baby groundhogs are so cute!! I only realised how small they are when I saw the photo of one at the water bowl – tiny! Can there be anything more beautiful than a baby groundhog nibbling on a carrot ❤️. I wouldn’t mind if you show more photos of this furry family!
Oh, and like Peter, I saw no blank gaps – all is well on your blog!