My family saw two deer close up last weekend while driving well within the boundaries of London Ontario. They were beautiful. I love deer; they have the skinny legs of horses or cows, yet have a graceful, natural shape found in neither. It was great. I did not get pictures, preferring to enjoy the moment rather than scrambling for a phone or whatever.
The natural world has a way of asserting itself even in unlikely places, no matter where you live; different animals perhaps, but rest assured, there will be groundhogs. City-dwelling wild animals make me happy in a very simple way. Perhaps that is why this helmet cam-based video has a Sesame Street kind of quality. Enjoy. Or not, I guess, if you're some sort of bitter and negative person who would rather be crusty. Either way, if you click play there will be groundhogs!
As you may have noticed, I recruited the Rantwick clan to record some voice-overs. They were totally willing at the time, probably because they knew it was the quickest way to have me leave them alone so they could return to the things they actually wanted to be doing.
When my kids saw the finished product, they independently asked variations of "What is your deal? Who sees five groundhogs and does this?" I had no answer other than "I do, I guess!" That answer didn't seem to satisfy, but I got the feeling that despite their puzzlement, they kind of liked that I am this kind of weirdo. Kind of. Mrs. Rantwick, on the other hand, just doesn't ask such questions any more. She is the best woman on the planet, hands down.
Yer Pal,
R A N T W I C K
PS - Groundhogs are real pain in the butt for farmers, who in these parts shoot them when they can. I get that. These city groundhogs, however, aren't hurting anybody as far as I know. I hope they get to stick around.
6 comments:
In the city groundhogs tend to dig their burrows alongside foundations of buildings and under porches which can lead to structural problems if left unchecked.
A Crossbow works good in town (No Bang!)and if skewered through the middle the bolt keeps them from escaping back down their hole. A live trap and relocation to the country is a more humane alternative.
I just like spooking them while riding by on my bike. I think it's funny to see their fat little bodies running hell bent for leather.
RCT - Good point on the foundations thing. "Skewered through the middle", though? You definitely are a pragmatist! I can't imagine their presence in this hillside is going to structurally undermine anything, unless their underground homes are way more extensive than I might imagine... anyway, I hope people leave "my" groundhogs alone!
They are funny when they run, for sure.
Never seen a groundhog either around DFW or Ocean Shores, though deer are more common than cats and dogs combined around Ocean Shores.
I love your quirky humor. As you point out, urban environment have their share of animals too. I enjoy squirrel and chipmunk antics, and have come to enjoy watching a groundhog that lives in our backyard. Now that my raised beds have fencing I can harvest my vegetables instead of watching the animal raid my kale and lettuce. My youngest boy thinks groundhogs (we call'em woodchucks) resemble a large version of one of our guinea pigs.
As a farmer's daughter, I have to agree with RCT Rantwick. Sorry. :'(
As long as you're happy with them, you go ahead and enjoy them. But around these here parts, the only good groundhog is a dead one.
I love my horse. Groundhogs dig holes in his pasture that can't always be seen as a gallop, and it's not uncommon for a horse to break a leg by stepping in an unseen groundhog hole while frolicking. That would suck.
RQ - I totally get why farmers hate 'em and shoot 'em on sight. I'm just hoping nobody kills these particular ones since they ain't hurtin' nobody nor their horses.
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