Rodent Report

[fbhjr]

I went looking for the groundhog this morning and only found a squirrel.


The hole was still there, but they weren’t coming out.


About noon I was standing by the dumpster and the mother popped up on the wall in front of me. We were both quite surprised.
She started at me, I took her picture.


I did see one of the groundpiglets, but wasn’t quick enough to get the photo.
They are surprisingly large, about 3/4 the size of the mother.
I don’t think they are going to be in the burrow long before they head off on their own.

They are also fast. As soon as I saw one, it ran back in and the mother took up guard duty.


As long as the truck was parked near their burrow, the mother would come out.


But, when the truck left for the day, they stayed in. I wondered a bit about that until I heard a hawk cry over my head as I was looking for them. I don’t blame them for staying underground.

Even when the mother is out, she is always on watch.

And, not far from the entrance to the burrow.


I was glad the day was better, if still hot.
But, at least today I could see across the valley when I got home.

Comments

[evrgreen.livejournal.com]

Groundhog lairs almost always (I'd say more than 95% of the time) have a second entrance/exit, which is often much less used or saved primarily for emergencies or night time use. In general, a hole will be in a field, within 75 feet or less from the edge. There will be another hole/entrance just inside the treeline of the forest around the field if in the wild. In urban settings, there is likely another entrance under/behind a hedge or bush that is near or along the building's wall, I bet.. This way, they can use the parking lot entrance when there is cover (truck) nearby, or pop out under cover of bush/hedges without being seen if they need to get out but can't use the parking lot entrance because the truck isn't there for cover.