While I was on my way back from lunch today, I got a
pleasant little surprise. I spotted a groundhog on the side of Lexington Parkway as I went through Como Park. I have seen them before from time to time since Como is pretty close to work. Since I had my camera with me at work, I was hoping o go shooting when I was done but the weather was not very cooperative, I ran back and picked it up and headed back to where I spotted him.
The first time I saw one of these at Como I though it was a yellow-bellied marmot, like the ones that I have seen at Yellowstone but I checked it out and found that this was a cousin the groundhog also sometimes called a woodchuck. Yellow-bellied marmots typically live in rocky
terrain above 2000 feet above sea level. The groundhog is a lowland dweller who usually lives in fields or the edges of forest. All marmots, including the groundhog, are actually a part of the ground
squirrel family.
As it is October, and winter will soon be here this guy will probably be
hibernating soon. Ground hogs often create a
separate winter burrow in which to hibernate. The most famous ground hog is
Punxsutawney Phil who each year comes out on
Groundhogs Day to predict when winter will end. I wonder if things work in reverse? If this guy saw his shadow does that mean we get 2 more months of summer? One can only dream.
Let's hope that Punxsutawney Phil is correct. This morning he came out of his burrow early and since the sun was not out yet he did not see his shadow. According to legend if the groundhog does not see his shadow it means that Spring is near. I am kind of sick of winter and could use a little Spring soon.
