The latest animal to visit my yard is this groundhog! They are one of the largest members of the squirrel family, weighing in at about thirteen pounds.
Other names for them are woodchuck and whistlepig.
They build really deep burrows under the frost line that have several rooms including a bathroom.
Some cool new-to-me facts are that they can climb trees and swim, using these skills to get away from predators.
Groundhogs can totally demolish a flower or vegetable garden!
They spend all summer eating and bulking up, so they can hibernate from October-ish to March/April. This one walked right past the garden I planted, to feed on clover and wildflowers. I’m so glad I keep 2/3 of my backyard wild!
