Saturday, September 3, 2016

BLACK GROUNDHOG

Here's something you don't see every day…a black groundhog! I've only ever seen one other black-furred woodchuck—and that occasion, several years ago, afforded merely a fleeting, drive-by glimpse at some distance.

Like spontaneous magic, this amazing individual simply appeared in my yard the other morning, pausing no more than ten feet beyond the window! I was truly flabbergasted!

The expected coat coloration for groundhogs is a basic, run-of-the-mill brown. Black-furred wild critters are few and far between here in Ohio. A few black squirrels in small colonies scattered throughout the state—though none anywhere near my southwestern bailiwick. And in Ohio's Appalachian foothill regions—miles away from these pastoral precincts—you might spot one of the handful of black bears who call the Buckeye State home.

Otherwise, the only black mammals you'll see are wandering cats and dogs. My visitor was a genetic anomaly—an atypical, dressed-in-sable, melanistic-phase whistle-pig!

Melanism is an overdevelopment of the dark-colored pigment—melanin—in fur, skin, feathers, or scales. It's the opposite of albinism, which is a lack of color pigment, and can occur in any animal, including birds and reptiles. Those classy-looking black squirrels are really melanistic-phase gray squirrels—a fairly common occurrence. 

Over the years I've seen any number of melanistic-phase animals, including various hawks, whitetail deer, raccoons, and foxes. But when it comes to groundhogs, I'm told melanism is extremely rare. 

I'm fortunate such a unique creature came my way—and glad I can share this singular treat.
–––––––    

12 comments:

Gail said...

Hi Grizz - fascinating lesson of nature and God's wonder and delight. I so love your wisdom and knowledge that you share so generously and happily and lovingly and with excitement and awe Your telling is as good as the picture, perhaps even better!
Happy Labor Day weekend to you and your Lady-Love

Love Gail
peace......

Grizz………… said...

Gail…

Hey, I appreciate the comment. I'm just glad I managed a photo of the groundhog to share.

BTW, saw your fried zucchini pix—looked delicious. As to Labor Day…I forgot about it completely this morning—got up at my usual 5:00 a.m., fixed breakfast, got Myladylove up at 5:45. THAT WENT OVER WELL! You've heard about allowing sleeping dogs to remain undisturbed? Well, the same goes for sleeping wives thinking they have a vacation day to snooze in! And looking forward to it in the worst way.

I believe I've finally got the bleeding stopped… :/

Gail said...

Hi again - too funny about you waking up your Lady-Love - glad you are healing :-)

The zucchini came out really delicious - we have two big-full containers frozen, another one for my daughter and her family and one for us to make parmesian style. That atop the eggplant we already fried up and froze and more eggplant almost ready to be picked, we are set for many meals - nice huh? :-)

Skipp is mowing te lawn today, I will hang outside and cheer him on while reading! Later we are grilling some chicken that is marinating in a honey-mustard dressing. And by the way, I went to my 'lung-function-test on Friday and did well. The specialist has to 'read' my output/input numbers but whatever - l have a follow-up w/my PCP tomorrow and that's it until late October. Phew. i have been feeling stable bnd my BP and pulse numbers have been great every day. Amen, hallelujah! Every step, every breath, every everything is a blessing -

Have a great day - keep pressure on the bleeding hahahahehehehahahaheeheehahaha :-)

Love Gail'peace.....

Jain said...

Beautiful animal!

When I gave up religion years ago, I decided that Groundhog Day (the only holiday to honor a critter) was an acceptable holiday to celebrate, and my church-going family has celebrated it with me ever since.

Grizz………… said...

Gail…

We've been fixing a lot of zucchini too, and even more summer squash, both of which we really love raw and dipped, or fried/grilled/sautéed in various ways and as additions to any number of dishes. Other than in wraps, which I freeze for Myladylove to take for her work lunches, I've never pre-cooked and frozen either (or eggplant, for that matter) but might have to do so. Your dishes always sound so tastily interesting.

Trust me, Myladylove DID NOT let me forget that I needlessly woke her up early yesterday morning. She can hold a grudge with the best of 'em and has a memory like a steel trap. You'd think she was Irish! She griped and muttered about being robbed of her sleep all day long yesterday, plus she's already mentioned it a couple more times this morning before heading out. Not sure my wounds are going to heal so long as she keeps scratching the scabs off and rubbing in a handful of salt! I seriously doubt my punishment is over just yet. I'm probably going to have to take her out and buy her a new purse, maybe a few more pairs of shoes, and possibly a couple hundred bucks worth of stones and silver for her jewelry making…if I'm lucky. Paybacks are tough and expensive.

Grizz………… said...

Jain…

Hmmmm…you're right re. the decided lack of critter-honoring holidays.

(As an aside, one of my second cousins, who's about four months older, was born on Groundhog Day, a fact I never let her forget. Hers is the only birthday I can ever remember, too.)

Anyway…Groundhog Day is such a bust here in Ohio. Too early, too cold, too lacking in any sort of activity since the center of attention critter is generally sound asleep in its burrow, and tends toward teeth-gnashing surliness when forced awake. Moreover, the whole affair is based on the Colonial misconception that a woodchuck is more-or-less the same precognitive animal as their familiar European badger. (We both know whistle pigs have no more talent for weather/seasonal prophecy than, say, your basic spermophile.)

What you need is a more widely accepted and celebrated holiday, and I suggest you consider adding Buzzard Day at Hinkley to your list! Sure, it's still cold in March, but the celebration is well attended and affords a satisfying amount of fun and zaniness, comes with the usual festival array of good eats (a daybreak pancake breakfast being just the first of the event's scheduled offerings) revolves around a natural happening and those delightful if somewhat somber vultures (true, the historical accuracy is questionable) and if you like, gives you an opportunity to dress appropriately. What more could you ask?

Gail said...

Hi again -

a "quote" from my favorite Uncle - Uncle Tom (Italian birth name - Gaitano)

"HAPPY WIFE - HAPPY LIFE" :-)

Love Gail
peace......

Out To Pasture said...

Wow, a black groundhog! Never saw one of those before. A week ago I spied a youngster having a drink from my ornamental pond. In fact, it wore a lighter coloured garment than our usual whistle pigs. Isn't life just one surprise after another? So glad I've got 20/20 vision (with my eye glasses). Thanks for that post, Grizz!

Scott said...

So cool, Grizz! You ARE lucky to have seen this, and I'm glad you shared. We have some melanistic grey squirrels in the watershed to the west of us, and we have some very light-colored (whiteish-yellowish) squirrels to the north of us in our watershed, but I've never seen a groundhog like this.

When I see unusually colored animals like this (or the leucistic piebald doe we have running around my preserve, for example), I always wonder if they mate, or whether potential mates are "turned off" by the appearance. I suspect that hormones play a much larger role than appearance when it comes to mating in mammals, but you never know. I do know that our piebald doe had two fawns this spring (both normally colored), so her appearance didn't discourage at least one buck!

Grizz………… said...

Gail…

Good quote and painfully full of truth. Obviously from a wise man who learned how to survive his women. Unfortunately, we guys tend to suffer the occasional brain lapse, for which we must pay the price…and pay…and pay…

Grizz………… said...

Out To Pasture…

I have lots of groundhogs hereabouts. Three or four have their holes within a dozen yards of the cottage, and there are others whose dens are in neighboring yards who often decide to forage my grass or flower beds or compost pile. And on a good day, I could probably drive five miles up any local country road and spot 15-20 whistle pigs pretty easy. Ohio is really woodchuck central. So I see lots and lots of groundhogs, and have all my life. But a black groundhog? Now that's special! I'm so glad I could make a few photos to share…and glad you enjoyed seeing my rare critter. Life is indeed one surprise after another!

Grizz………… said...

Scott…

I'm glad to hear you've never seen a black groundhog. Because I got to wondering…are they really as rare as I think and have been told, or have I just missed 'em for years? I know you're observant and pay attention to such matters. So if this is a first for you (it's only the second one ever for me) then I don't feel like I've blown my sense of excitement and wonder up too much.

The closest population of black squirrels (melanistic grays) to me that I know about is about 50 miles from here, in northwestern Cincinnati. White squirrels, both true albinos and white-phase grays lacking red eyes, are fairly common. I also have a gray squirrel here that's colored like a fox squirrel, though built and acts like a gray and runs and dens up with grays. If they can interbreed, then I'd bet that's the case. Over the years I've seen any number of other melanistic animals, including three or four whitetails, wolves and coyotes, raccoons, several redtail hawks, a toad (now that was really odd looking!) ruffed grouse, a ringneck pheasant, and an amazing great blue heron.

I don't think color plays much role for most animals, so far as mating goes. If it applies anywhere, I'd think birds would be the most likely candidates. But a black or white rooster has no trouble gathering his flock of brownish-red hens. A white animal stands out in every natural settings except snow cover, making it harder to hunt, or easier to be hunted. A real handicap either way. But I wouldn't think black would pose such issues.

And it was a shiny, deep black, even in the brightest sunlight. Really neat. We saw it several times over the next few days. My wife, who's spent her life rambling in the woods and fields, and lived on a remote Alaskan island for several years, is a pretty good outdoors person. She kept looking at it and found the sight so strange she couldn't quite accept my identification…or her own eyes! "Are you SURE that's a groundhog?" she asked more than once. Jet black animals are just so weird and out of place in our scheme of things. They don't look real, or even possible. When this fellow stood on his haunches to check around, he looked for all the world like some amazing species of miniature black bear.