Chuck has an important announcement to
make today. He’s charged with forecasting the weather and telling us when
spring will arrive. Chuck a.k.a. Groundhog, Thickwood Badger, Canada Marmot,
Whistler and the Red Monk amongst other more casual names (some people think of
Chuck as a large ground squirrel) must wonder why people do not have the
courtesy to call him Charles. After all it’s an important job that not everyone
is able to do. They pull him out of his burrow where he’s been comfortably
hibernating to look for his shadow. Any self-respecting groundhog would rather
be in his nice warm bed. Who can blame him for nipping New
York’s mayor last year? There are a few horses in Central
Park that would enjoy that opportunity.
Chuck has been successful about 40% of the
time according to meteorologists but Chuck—excuse me, Charles—believes they are
just jealous because on February 2 of each year, it’s the Red Monk that gets
all the attention.
Groundhogs are found all over—the United
States, Canada,
as far north as Alaska and
southeast to Georgia.
They weigh anywhere from 4 to 9 pounds and are16 to 26 inches long. Charles is
the proud father of chucklings. Charles thinks calling them chucklings is as
cutesy as Chuck.
How much wood would a woodchuck chuck
if a woodchuck could chuck wood?
A woodchuck would chuck all the wood he could
If a woodchuck could chuck wood!
Wrong! The name Woodchuck is not actually related
to wood or chucking. Charles received his name from the Algonquians—wuchak.
Chuck loses a lot of weight when
hibernating in his burrow. When he comes out he’s ready for a good meal—a succulent
plant, wild berries, insects and your garden vegetables would make a tasty
meal.
photos courtesy of Ladycamera and Susan Sam
Bests,
Elise
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