Yes, I know Groundhog Day is February 2nd. I’ve never seen a groundhog anywhere close to that time. Groundhogs are on my mind this month, however, as we seem to have one living nearby. He’s not terribly shy, at least when we’re taking pictures from inside the house:

Some fun facts about groundhogs:

• Woodchucks and groundhogs are the same animal.
• They are the largest mammal in Wisconsin in the squirrel family and are a type of marmot (Marmota monax, specifically).
• Their nickname is a “whistlepig” for the sounds they make. I’ve never heard one whistle (in fear) or grunt, that I’m aware, but I’ll be listening for it now!
• These animals are true hibernators. In Wisconsin, that lasts from mid-October until late March. When hibernating, a groundhog’s body temperature drops to 40 degrees Fahrenheit and their heartrate slows to 5 beats per minute. The animal will lose about 40% of its body weight during hibernation.
• A groundhog’s underground burrow is extensive and tidy. They dig separate chambers for hibernating, for nesting with young, and for their toilet.
• A groundhog/woodchuck will only eat bark when food is scarce, preferring herbs, grasses and dandelions (of which there is no shortage on my country lawn).

I only have a couple other pictures of groundhogs in my stash so far. This guy took shelter under our porch in a thunderstorm in 2023 (you can just see the yellow ear of one of our cats keeping an eye on the possible intruder):

And here is probably the same one frolicking in the yard on a better day: