After releasing the six opossums (as discussed in the previous post), we drove to another location in central Pennsylvania to release a groundhog that was brought back to health by Robyn Graboski’s Centre Wildlife Care (CWC). CWC took in the groundhog in September when it was found lying by the side of the road, after apparently being hit by a vehicle. Now it was ready to reenter the wild.
The groundhog waited patiently inside the carrier.
The crate was relocated to higher grass, and the door was opened.
And nothing happened. There could be any number of reasons for that. The groundhog might be either baffled or confused by the change in fortune.
Whatever was going through the groundhog’s mind, Kim Lloyd tried to encourage the fellow to exit by nudging the carrier this way and that.
That didn’t work. Therefore, the next step was taken by Michael Klena and Kim: removing the top of the carrier.
The groundhog did not appear particularly happy on losing the roof.
And then refused to leave the bottom of the carrier, despite Kim’s superior tilting technique.
“Hey! That’s an interesting newspaper article. Let me finishing reading it.”
A shadow passed over the sun, Kim removed the crate bottom, and the groundhog wondered about everything, including the loss of the newspaper.
The groundhog considered going in one direction.
And then in another direction.
The idea of freedom reached the groundhog despite either confusion or bafflement, and the groundhog started walking in a definite manner.
And then the groundhog stopped to look at us, pausing for a few minutes.
Determination took over, and the groundhog began walking again.
The groundhog sighted the deep underbrush and headed for it.
Before disappearing, the groundhog turned to give us a final look of farewell, as if saying, “Thanks for all the greens, but I’m on my own now.”
The groundhog had a remarkable stroke of good luck, in being rescued and brought back to health, via CWC, so that another wonderful Pennsylvania mammal could grace the countryside.
