Susan Traxel Martin sent me this shot of a tree-climbing groundhog, which was sent scurrying by Martin's dog Ranger.
Until a friend sent me a similar picture last summer I had no idea that groundhogs could do anything but waddle and dig. But, clearly, they are multi-talented.
While growing up in rural Southern Oregon, Mark Taylor developed a passion for the outdoors while he and his younger brother tagged along with their father on fishing, hunting and camping adventures.
Graduating from Northwestern University in 1988, Taylor spent four years as an officer in the U.S. Navy based in Norfolk before moving into journalism.
After five years writing about the military for a Norfolk-based publishing company, he became the outdoors editor at The Roanoke Times in 1998. He lives in Roanoke with his wife and twin daughters.
As a teenager I have seen them climb low tree branches.
This was to get a better advantage for sunning and protecting themselves from preditors.
Comment by Charles Arnold — August 29, 2007 @ 6:31 am
Groundhogs will also climb trees for food. I used to work at a apple orchard and often seen them in the trees eating apples
Comment by Tobe — August 31, 2007 @ 1:53 pm
I love this photo! I had no idea groundhogs could climb. I'm not sure I would have known what it was . . . seeing it in a tree like that.
Comment by Sandy Cathcart — September 12, 2007 @ 2:58 pm