What's cuter than a baby groundhog? Not a lot! But this picture of Kiely and baby groundhog certainly qualifies! Kiely is my #1 assistant at WTS and comes everyday after school and during the weekends. She is great with the two baby groundhog sisters who were orphaned after their mother was trapped and relocated.
A few days after the mother was taken away one little baby emerged looking for mum. The next day another one emerged. There are usually at least 4 in a litter which means that 2 probably didn't make it, but these two little darlings are super healthy and are growing with leaps and bounds!
Groundhogs are also called Woodchucks & Whistle Pigs. They do NOT chuck wood, but they DO whistle, especially when they know it is feeding time or they are playing. They eat a LOT as they have a lot of growing to d before the cold weather and hibernation. They also often use their blanket as a pacifier as seen in the below upper right photo. ADORABLE!
One of the neighbours informed me & Kieley that if I let the little groundhog sisters go in the Wild Things woods she would trap them and kill them. We were speechless!! So I will be finding a good place to let them go. I prefer doing "soft releases"- when you let animals go near you so they can come back if there is any trouble, but hopefully I will find a place where they can thrive and perhaps where someone can keep an eye on them.
I love this picture of Danny nursing- they have such cute tails! Their names are Danny & Daisy (all those who watched any Sidney Sheldon made for TV movies in the 80s will understand!).
