You’ve heard of Punxsutawney Phil, the shadow watcher; but, have you heard of Naskeag Nate, the tide watcher? This is Nate on Sunday (May 24):
Unusually for most of his kind, he was enjoying himself at the shore. He ate a large portion of vegetation there, then climbed up to the top of a 15-foot granite pier pylon to take a sunbath and scan Great Cove:
Most people would call Phil and Nate “Groundhogs,” a name that has nothing to do with their looks or genes; it reportedly was given to them because of their extraordinary burrowing ability. Many also would call them Woodchucks, a name that has nothing to do with wood or the chucking thereof. It was an attempt by our European settlers – who had never seen a Groundhog in Europe – to pronounce the Algonquin Tribe’s word for the animal, “Wuchak,” meaning digger.
That’s not all: some people call these rodents “Whistle-Pigs,” due to their high-pitched call; or “Land Beavers,” due to their looks (if you ignore their hairy little tails), or even “Mouse Bears,” because they sit up on their haunches like a tiny bear. But, in the end, Nate and Phil and their kind are just the largest ground squirrels in Maine; and, yes, they climb trees and swim.
However, as with all squirrels who have to live near humans, all is not furry fun with Groundhogs. They can gorge on crops and garden vegetables and dig massive tunnels that are not friendly to tractor axles. Our State allows hunters to shoot Groundhogs on sight anytime on non-posted land. (Brooklin, Maine) For a few more images, click here: