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If you’re tired of woodchuck photos feel free to skip this post. I’m sure I’ll have something equally as ridiculous tomorrow.
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Can I get an awww?
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So much cuteness I can hardly stand it.
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The little guys sure do enjoy their buffet.
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As evidenced by the little junior bellies they’re beginning to sport.
🤣
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While Lord Dudley Mountcatten prefers watching squirrels and birds, the abundance of baby woodchucks scampering around the royal landscape can be perplexing. He spots them, but then they scurry into a hole.
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Usually this hole, which is really more of a tunnel dug under a burning bush after we removed a dead cedar.
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His Lordship is a patient soul and knows they’ll pop their heads up sooner or later.
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Catching them? Well that’s a whole other issue.
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After he sees one, he searches everywhere.
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Sorry buddy. I don’t think they’re in there…
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Warning- disturbing, graphic images of a dead animal ahead.
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Still here? Okay then…
I woke up the other morning and thought I saw something strange on the front lawn. Still in my pajamas, I asked the husband to investigate. He came back inside with a strange look and a reticence to tell me what he’d found. After much shuffling of feet and stalling.. he told me Momma woodchuck had been killed.
I couldn’t believe it. She’s a tough old lady and I literally watched her chase off a fox last year.
Much as I didn’t want to, I had to see for myself.
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Poor thing.
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Something… coyote? fisher?… had ripped it apart. But as awful as it was, I told my husband the good news. It wasn’t momma chuck.
He thought I was nuts and proceeded to deal with the corpse. He said I couldn’t possibly tell one woodchuck from another … but I knew.
And a few hours later?
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Momma chuck and her baby enjoying some leftover deer grain.
Silly man. He should never doubt my ability to identify the critters I feed.
❤️
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Baby woodchucks are starting to explore the back deck.
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And have quickly figured out it’s a nice place to sit in the sun.
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Lord Dudley Mountcatten assured me this beats watching Animal Planet on tv hands paws down.
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Baby whistle pigs are fast, and fun to watch scampering around the deck.
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His Lordship agrees .
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Remember the little baby woodchuck who loved our house so much he hugged the kitchen porch?
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Well now he’s moved out back to the deck.
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He happily hangs out in the sun and surveys the back lawn.
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And to show his appreciation?
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Another hug.
❤️
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Fair warning – our baby chuckers are on the move and there will be a plethora of photographs in the near future.
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I just can’t get enough of their little paws.
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The siblings stick closely together.
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Though the occasional squabble over prime fruit and veg does occur.
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This is the runt of the litter.
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And it must be hard when the buffet is bigger than you.
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But damn, he’s a cute little bugger.
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Baby woodchucks are everywhere I look lately, including our kitchen porch. I was about to open the door yesterday when I spotted this little fellow.
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He scampered around for a bit and then settled in to rest.
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Before I knew it?
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The little guy was showing me just how much he loved living at Casa River.
If that’s not cute, I don’t know what is.
❤️
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It’s hard to get an accurate baby woodchuck count as they’re rarely all together.
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Four.
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Five.
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6.
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If you look closely there are actually 7. We’ve never had that many babies at one time …. and now I know why momma chuck always looks so annoyed.
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Babies are cute…
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But can also be a nuisance when you’re trying to eat dinner.
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Momma chuck has been bellying up the buffet as soon as it’s laid.
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And though we offer tasty treats…
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She always seems to be scowling.
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The speed at which she can devour a sliced carrot is truly impressive.
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But she’s none too pleased when junior joins her and starts chowing down.
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Mowing and yard work done for the day, we retired to the barn porch for adult beverages.
Can you spot the baby woodchuck?
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He was seriously chill.
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There’s something very satisfying about spending the day beating your lawn and gardens into submission and then sitting back to enjoy the view.
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Which of course, included another baby woodchuck.
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Life is good.
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River's world..... 