Our Critter

Over the four and a half years that we've lived in this house, we've been aware of a critter living under our deck. We really discovered it after the dog came to live with us, as she will stand over the spot where he/she/it sleeps and sniff for hours on end. I think it was just last summer or the one before that we spotted it for the first time, but it has remained quite elusive...until today!

We had a quiet day at home with no obligations, not even a trip to the grocery store - can I quickly take a pause to mention how nice that was - so we were playing/watching some PBS Kids, and I was sewing on a binding when the dog started to go NUTS. The critter popped up and I was able to snap a picture before he/she/it ducked under the deck again. The funny thing is that it wasn't bothered at all by our dog's incessant barking, but shied away as soon as I stood in the window.

Shortly after I started stitching again, he decided to take another trip out, with his goal to get to the woods. I was not as quick on the draw this time, but here he is headed through our "garden" (I am not a gardener!!!).
I saw him returning from across the field, so was ready to capture him on the way back. Anyone know what creature this is? Is it a groundhog? A woodchuck? Are groundhogs and woodchucks the same thing? Any tips on what we should feed him? He seems pretty harmless, but please let me know if I need to be worried!

P.S. I can't tell you how exciting this all is for a girl who grew up in the middle of a large city where squirrels and cockroaches were the only wildlife in the area!

Comments

Anonymous said…
Del said it is a groundhog (samething as a woodchuck). Harmless to pets and people, unless it is rabid, and may eat your flowers.
Moneik said…
I thought it was maybe a badger, but it looks a lot like pictures of groundhogs I have seen. We don't have them here, but we do have badgers.
Michele said…
Woodchuck in the North, groundhog in the South :)

It will wreak havoc if you want a garden; otherwise, they're harmless.