On critter patrol today the Girl Friend spotted a small Chuck way off in a field near the brush line. We watched as another small one came out to join it, then a third. They look to be about the right size to have been weaned and out on their own. Obviously siblings by the way they stayed close and moved together.
And all three are the darkest I've ever seen on Woodchucks. They were as dark as Baker's Chocolate all over.
Checked the log book and this is a month earlier than we've ever seen kits out before. Saw 15 Chucks total today. Looks like it's going to be another great year for Chucks.
Also been seeing alot of Red Tail Hawks, and we noticed that the Chucks could care less when the Hawks fly over the fields where the Chucks are out away from their burrows. Usually the Chucks will bolt for home and stay down for hours as soon as a Hawk starts over-flying the fields!!!
Also, yesterday we pulled up to one spot where we park and watch several Fields. While I'm glassing a hill side, the Girl Friend nudges my elbow. As I look over she's pointing out her window at a Chuck 10 feet away with it's head sticking out of it's burrow at the top of a drainage ditch bank looking right back at us. I only had the print-film camera with me because of the telephoto lens, but got some great close-ups of it ... while it was getting a close-up of us.
I hope the film isn't too old for the pictures to come out.
Paul.
