{"id":21273,"date":"2025-06-03T07:23:45","date_gmt":"2025-06-03T11:23:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/psnp.info\/p4td_\/?p=21273"},"modified":"2025-06-03T07:23:45","modified_gmt":"2025-06-03T11:23:45","slug":"groundhog-in-a-tree","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/psnp.info\/p4td_\/?p=21273","title":{"rendered":"Groundhog in a tree"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Groundhog (Woodchuck): Kennebunk, Maine, USA, June 2025 \u2014 Not something you see every day, but I have now seen this twice this spring\u2026once in Ohio at Magee Marsh, and now here along the Bridle Path near Route 9. I actually probably walked right by this Woodchuck in the tree, just above eye-level, right beside the path, because I was too busy looking for possible hawks higher in the trees, At any rate I would have missed it if the couple behind me had not chased me down in the parking lot as I was readying my trike to ride home, to ask it was possible they had actually seen a \u201cbeaver\u201d in a tree. They had a phone photo and I did not have the heart to tell them it did not look exactly like a beaver to me, but I was truly thankful for the alert, and took my camera back to see if it would still be there. Google AI provided the information that tree climbing is at least a well known habit of Groundhogs, along with some speculation as to why they might do it. Predator avoidance, tender spring leaves and fruit later in the season, but the one I like best is \u201cjust for fun\u201d\u2026or to get a better look at their territory. This Woodchuck was not at all disturbed by my attention, and was still comfortable there in the little fork in the branches when I decided I already had way too many exposures and went back to my tike and home. Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 at various focal lengths for framing. Program mode with my birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator. <\/p>\n

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