What is this animal?

[AirWalke]

Okay, I know I risk making myself out to be ignorant, but I honestly don't know what this creature is. It was chewing on our doormat at our front door, and I thought it was a cat until it sat up on its hind legs and looked inside at me. Cute little fella, I just don't know where it came from or what it is. :wink:

EDIT: By the way, I live somewhat close to the Raccoon River and about a mile out from downtown. Perhaps it's some water-dwelling animal I don't have a familiarity with?

 

[ISU_REV]

I think it is a mole (or a miniature bear).

 

[AirWalke]

Upon further inspection, this appears to be my first encounter with a woodchuck. Wow! LOL.

 

[ISU_REV]

Upon further inspection, this appears to be my first encounter with a woodchuck. Wow! LOL.

Yup...woodchuck

 

[ISUAgronomist]

So this begs the question...

How much doormat could a woodchuck chuck?

 

[isucyfan]

Also known as a groundhog.

 

[ISU_REV]

Also known as a groundhog.

This one has eaten lots of doormats:

http://letterstorob.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/ground-hog-day1.jpg

 

[AirWalke]

Also known as a groundhog.

Hoo boy. I hope this doesn't mean he's been burrowing nearby or under our house?

 

[Cydar]

This reminded me of an incident reported to the police and published in the Ames Tribune:

July 26: City workers were held at bay by what appeared to be a rabid woodchuck at South 16th Street and Apple Place. The woodchuck, according to police reports, would not let the workers get back into their trucks near the BMX bike park. The woodchuck reportedly fled the scene, and police were unable to locate it.

 

[CyCrazy]

Yep you got a woodchuck problem. A 22 will take care of it. If you are animal friendly get a live trap and bait it with cat food and set it loose in the country.

 

[chadm]

Yep you got a woodchuck problem. A 22 will take care of it. If you are animal friendly get a live trap and bait it with cat food and set it loose in the country.

Everyone in the city wants to spread their problems to the country folk.:wink:

 

[Arkansas Cyclone]

ahhhh yes...know these little bad boys (and girls) well. Luckily I don't have them (more armadillos than anything else which are no less a pain) but there's a place I drive by every day and almost always see these guys 'hanging out'.

 

[Cybyassociation]

chupacabra?

 

[zach]

Wood chuck...

 

[AllBig12Drinker]

Had one a couple summers ago burrowing underneath my patio. As suggested, a 22 will handle the issue. I popped the one in my yard with a high powered bb gun. Didn't get him immediately but the lead pellets got to him.

 

[RustyClone]

My place backs up to a green space and there is a group of these guys that hang out there. I haven't seen them yet this year.

 

[snowcraig2.0]

We had one of those in our backyard, until it made the mistake of straying too far from cover while our dogs were outside.

 

[CloneIce]

We had one of those in our backyard, until it made the mistake of straying too far from cover while our dogs were outside.

Haha. Yeah my Grandma's Norwegian Elk Hound really loved groundhogs, she was a woodchuck chewin machine, would constantly go for a run and come back with a groundhog.

 

[Cyclonefarmer]

Also known as a groundhog.

See also "Groundhog Day" with Bill Murray,Andie MacDowell(sp),Chris Elliot:yes:

 

[cdekovic]

How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?