rusty_armour (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
rusty_armour) wrote2013-08-16 04:04 pm
rusty_armour) wrote2013-08-16 04:04 pm
Unexpected Groundhog
I was at Edwards Gardens this afternoon when I had an expected encounter with a groundhog. I had managed to find a rather secluded bench (because I always go to public places to get away from people) and had just pulled out my notebook and pen when -- BOOM! GROUNDHOG! Okay, there wasn't actually a "BOOM" involved. The groundhog was silent and stealthy. One second, I'm all on my lonesome and then, suddenly, there's this groundhog staring up at me. I mean, he was right by my leg and I think he was seriously considering whether it might be worthwhile to climb up on the bench beside me. He looked a lot like this:
I stared down at the little fellow in surprise and trepidation because I was afraid he might really climb up on the bench beside me. Our exchange went something like this:
![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif){kind=small}
rusty_armour: Whoa... groundhog: Hiya!
rusty_armour: You're...whoa... groundhog: You realize I'm looking for food, right?
rusty_armour: groundhog: So, do you have any?
As it turned out, I had some broken vegetable thins. I was saving them in case I came across a friendly chipmunk or squirrel. I never expected to be feeding them to a groundhog. I threw a couple of pieces on the ground, wondering if he would even like them. He sniffed one cracker before quickly wolfing it down. Then he looked back up at me expectantly, so I threw some more vegetable thins at him. He ate those too and then seemed torn between taking his leave or asking me for more. As I'm a total sap, I gave him some more. After that, he left. However, that wasn't the last I saw of him.
There are these rocky ledges throughout the bottom level of Edwards Gardens. People often stop to sit on them, but they also provide a kind of animal network. Chipmunks will pop up through cracks or disappear down holes. From my bench, I could see a group of sparrows hanging out on top of a higher set of rocks. It wasn't long before Mr. Groundhog joined them. I watched in amusement and disbelief as he chewed on a crab apple. I could only see his head, but the rest of his body appeared when the apple rolled away and he had to reach out to grab it. Unfortunately, he took off when a group of people walked past, but I saw him one last time in the undergrowth near my bench. He had a huge carrot in his mouth. I have no idea where he got it. It didn't have the leafy green top, and I think it might have been peeled, so maybe someone having a picnic dropped it. In any case, he seemed very satisfied with his prize.
Despite all the distractions, I did manage to get a tiny bit of writing done. However, I have a feeling I might do better with the writing session I have planned for tomorrow morning. The closest thing I have to a groundhog in my apartment is a Vancouver Island Marmot. He's a stuffed animal, so he should be safe.
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I'm still really surprised that it did. In my experience, groundhogs are usually pretty timid. However, I guess this particular groundhog has learned that being outgoing equals free food. He really was quite bold.
I love your groundhog-dialogue.
Thank you very much! I'm happy you enjoyed it! :-) Naturally, I will always treasure this meaningful, if brief, exchange.
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I have to confess that I found that groundhog picture online. However, the groundhog that I saw did look a lot like the one in the picture -- right down to the pose. *g*
And such a wonderful thing to happen.
Yes, it was pretty wonderful. I still can't believe it happened.
Very sweet and funny dialogue.
Oh, thank you. I'm so glad you like it. :-)
Good luck with the writing.
Thanks again! :-) I'm really hoping I'll be a bit more successful tomorrow.
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Central Park has muggers, we have roaming bands of ground hogs apparently.
Were you working on the novel? How's it going?
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Thank you! It was a pretty awesome experience! :-D Ironically, I always keep my eyes peeled for groundhogs when I go to Edwards Gardens as I've seen them there before. However, I was only expecting to see one from a distance. I never imagined that one would come up to me!
At least you weren't afraid of the cute little critter and fed him some treats. :)
Well, I have to admit that I was a little nervous about it climbing up on the bench with me. I'm not sure why. I guess it's because groundhogs are bigger than chipmunks and squirrels, and I wasn't sure what to expect from him.
This guy that I used to work with was so afraid of ground hogs that he wouldn't walk by one on the side of the road! I told him they are mainly herbivores, but he was still scared. Granted, the one we had living in the industrial park where I work was a pretty big one, but I thought it was hilarious that a grown man was scared of a large chubby rodent. XD
Okay, that is pretty funny. I mean, I can understand being a bit scared as I've seen some pretty big groundhogs myself, but crossing the road to avoid one is a bit much. They are herbivores and, from what little I've seen, they usually run when they're frightened. They don't attack. Of course, I'm guessing that groundhog had no reason to be afraid of that man. *g*
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Yes, very much so. In fact, according to Wikipedia, it's known as the "land beaver" in some areas. They are both from the rodent order, but they're from different family branches...or something like that.
Vegetable thins, the universal path to friendship. Who knew?
I KNOW! I thought they were just a tasty treat (and my current cracker addiction). There's a Compliments brand of "Fine Roasted Vegetable Thins" that are delicious. Unfortunately, they aren't vegan, but they're low in saturated fat and 8 calories per cracker. Anywaaaaay, they are apparently an effective means of breaking down communication barriers (or, at least, feeding groundhogs).
Yup, urban animals, they get pretty bold.
Yes, unfortunately, they do get pretty bold. And I'm certainly not helping the situation by feeding them. I know there are signs at Edwards Gardens asking people not to feed the birds because there's a fear that they'll stop flying south in the winter, not to mention keeping the water cleaner by cutting down on things like excess goose turds, etc.
Central Park has muggers, we have roaming bands of ground hogs apparently.
And Ninja Squirrels. I was at High Park with a couple of friends on June 1st and we saw Ninja Squirrels. The one friend coined the term because all the squirrels were engaged in this kind of stealthy walk rather than their usual jumpy-bouncey method of travel...if you know what I mean. It was very hot that day. Maybe they just didn't have the energy to be full on squirrels.
Were you working on the novel? How's it going?
Yes, actually, I was working on the "novel". It's going okay. Slower than I'd like, but at least it's going. The writing session this morning was pretty good, actually. I'm happy (at the moment, at least) with what I got down. :-)
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Yes, they are very cute, especially when they're sitting up on their hind legs trying to charm you out of your vegetable thins. *g*
In Canada, we met some black squirrels, they looked amazing scampering over the snow.
Oh, I'm glad you got to see some. :-) Do you just have the little red squirrels in Britain? I can't even remember if I saw any black squirrels when I was in the UK. I know I saw some terrifying geese in York, but, then, I find most geese terrifying. *g*
I always chatter to the critters.
I hear ya. Sadly, I really was talking to the groundhog, though I kept my voice very low, mostly because I didn't want to attract anyone's attention. Of course, I didn't want to frighten the groundhog away either.
Glad you were able to supply him with some vegetable thins and I hope you're writing session today goes well :)
Yes, I'm glad I had enough self control to save some of the vegetable thins. And my writing session today went really well. Your kind good wishes must have helped. :-)
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Thanks! I found it pretty exciting myself! :-)
We don't have anything as interesting as a groundhog here in the UK. Just squirrels and Foxes mostly. x
Oh, I don't know. You have hedgehogs and those black and white magpies. We don't have those here. And groundhogs are from the same family as squirrels. They're just bigger with less bushy tails. Oh, and they burrow into the ground. Okay, I guess they are kind of different. *g*
I love foxes, btw. I've seen some near (and in) ravines around Toronto. Actually, I spotted a fox years ago when I was sitting in Edwards Gardens with my sister. It trotted along one of the pathes (bold as brass) with a rabbit hanging out of its mouth. My sister was pretty horrified, but I thought it was cool.
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I understand your going to public places to get away from people. I hope you had a good writing session at home.
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There is nothing so lonely as being in a crowd so going to a public place to be alone makes perfect sense.
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I actually thought of you when I posted this, so I'm glad you think it was a wonderful experience,
I love friendly critters. I always talk out loud to them and I feel bad if I don't have food for them.
It's good to know that I'm not the only one. I usually find myself talking to friendly critters as well and always feel bad if I don't have anything to give them. That's why I try to have something with me when I go to Edwards Gardens. I almost always bring a lunch with me, so that helps.
The groundhog is cute and your conversation with him was fun.
The groundhog is a very cute animal. I'm still amazed that I saw one up close. The ones I'd seen before that had been very timid. They were definitely too far away for proper conversation. *g*
I'm glad he did well with food that day.
Me too. I think the carrot alone should have gone far! *g*
I understand your going to public places to get away from people.
It's good to know that I'm not the only one who feels this way. :-)
I hope you had a good writing session at home.
I'm happy to say that it went very well, which is a good thing because I didn't get any writing done today. *g* Well...I did some plotting, but that's it. In my defence, I've been cleaning my apartment. My mom is coming to stay on Friday.
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Excellent point! And animals do have their own languages, so communicating with them makes sense. :-)
I do that a lot, and not just with Brimley.
Oh, I talk to animals all the time too, though it's most often the family cats. However, everyone in my family talks to them, so I've never really questioned it. *g*
It is nice that you were able to commune with nature.
It's always a privilege to have that opportunity. When I talked on the phone to my mom yesterday, she suggested I try sitting on that same bench the next time I visit Edwards Gardens to see if the groundhog returns, but I can't see that happening again. It was so freaky the first time.
There is nothing so lonely as being in a crowd so going to a public place to be alone makes perfect sense.
Too true! It does make sense when you put it like that! Of course, it might also have something to do with me being an anti-social introvert. *g*
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