It’s Groundhog Day in the US today… a day that supposedly foretells the early (or late) coming of spring depending on if a certain groundhog named Punxsutawney Phil in Pennsylvania sees his shadow or not when pulled out of his burrow.
So in honor of Groundhog Day 2013, here’s one up in a tree – photographed last summer while Melissa and I were on a bike ride through a wooded area near our home. He was surprised to see us (and vice versa!) and froze for a minute while I fired off several shots from about 20 feet away with a telephoto zoom lens. Check out the front claws on this one!
According to Wikipedia, the groundhog is also known as a woodchuck, whistle-pig, and land beaver. Take your pick… as long as spring gets here sooner vs. later.
