EVERY SPRING he would emerge from his underground cave and bust open the lattice. He would look out over his kingdom and plan his dining experiences, his digging adventures, his waddling trips through field and highway, his naps in the sun. He was as fat and sturdy as any creature who lives off the land could be. They don’t call them ground hogs for nothing.

Last week, we took down the old shed he used for cover. We are trying to upgrade — and the changes don’t include him.

Where will he go?

Fatso probably has little anxiety about his survival. I am sure he is still alive. I am sure he is as confident as he has always been. The sun and the earth will provide for him. And so will lots of hard-working gardeners. From spring to spring, he is at home in the world. His life is a lesson in domestic ease.

— Comments —

Johanna writes:

We had an entire family living under our deck while we were trying to sell our house. Some discouragement was in order.
The ground was dug up and wire fencing installed with one small section left open enough for the mother to emerge. The fencing
had very jagged edges to discourage re-entry. I spent a few very uncomfortable days imagining the babies starving under our
feet but we never saw the mother pining away nearby so all seems to have ended well. Here is a photo of one of the babes.
They had all gotten quite comfortable in their surroundings and had even taken to sunning on the deck when the spirit moved them.

Laura writes:

I can’t go so far as to call a baby ground hog cute, but they are cuter than the adults.

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