I did some shooting over the weekend up in the woodlot behind the house. There are lots of groundhog dens along the edges and in the rock outcropping right in the middle. I'm always keeping an eye out for any early activity. Males will go visit their girlfriends late winter for a "date".

On Saturday there were the typical squirrel and deer tracks in the 6" snow. Sunday afternoon I went back up and the woodlot was crisscrossed with groundhog trails! It's like someone threw a switch. The temps were in the low 20's with snow flurries but the hogs didn't seem to mind. The trails went from den to den with snow kicked out of the openings.

This was encouraging sign and I hope there is a bumper crop of sod poodles this year. I was starting to get a little worried.  

Red,

Punxsy Phil must have sent out the word on the animal hotline.  I saw Mama & baby bear tracks on the Laurel Ridge Feb. 9th in 10" of snow.  The cub track literally looked like a baby footprint.  I also saw a chipmunk Feb. 24th at Miller Run.  Usually don't see chippies over there until the snow thaws in May  

Mark,

Phil lies. He's going to get a Bodkin one of these years. I saw 2 munks last weekend too.

Some say Spring is right around the corner. I don't get excited until the spit thaws on the pump island at Sheetz. THAT is a sure sign of Spring!

Never knew g-hogs got around like that.  That kind of info is priceless.

QuoteOriginally posted by Red Beastmaster:
Mark,

I don't get excited until the spit thaws on the pump island at Sheetz. THAT is a sure sign of Spring!

That HAS to be a close associate of Red's...to share such colloquial whit! Only them W. PA boys would notice such signs of Spring!      :rolleyes:

Doc,

4Blade tolerates me more than most.

it's "nookin' pa nub" :-)

QuoteOriginally posted by Ray Hammond:
it's "nookin' pa nub" :-)

Lol. I thought it was "wookin" Either way.  For those of us who remember that skit... It's a hysterical

Ok I researched it. It's "WOOKIN"

 

Yeah, I sent Ray the video.

He can't help it, he's always got nookin' on his mind.  

You bet!

QuoteOriginally posted by Red Beastmaster:
Yeah, I sent Ray the video.

He can't help it, he's always got nookin' on his mind.    

Don't you mean "NUB"!?