During the earliest part of spring, I often see groundhogs applying their teeth to tree bark. I'm not sure they're actually eating anything in these instances; rather I think they might be somehow conditioning their teeth after a long winter of not being used during hibernation, but that's just an amateur theory.

Tags:   Marmota monax groundhog woodchuck standing tree bark teeth winter southwestern Ontario Canada Spruce Picea

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Red-bellied Woodpecker male

Tags:   Melanerpes carolinus Red-bellied Woodpecker male bird portrait profile winter southern Ontario Canada

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American Coot

Tags:   Fulica americana American Coot bird foraging walking beach sand shoreline water lake winter southern Ontario Canada

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Tags:   Junco hyemalis Dark-eyed Junco bird perched log snag wood beak open tongue winter southwestern Ontario Canada stump

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Although I'm posting this groundhog shot to celebrate the first full day of spring, I actually took the photo back in the halcyon days of early March, when it was still winter. I never thought I'd find myself describing the weather of early March in such a fond way, but this winter was definitely different!

Tags:   Marmota monax groundhog woodchuck rodent animal burrow entrance tree southwestern Ontario Canada

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