Introducing: Chuckies!

Earlier today I spotted five baby woodchucks attempting to climb from their below-deck lair and explore our koi pond.  Repeat, we have FIVE CHUCKIES.  Some of you may be saying, "Well now they've got a full-blown infestation on their hands."

A full-blown infestation of cuteness!

"Jeff!" I stage-whispered as I watched them.  They were very close to the window and oblivious to me.  "Jeff Jeff Jeff Jeff!  BABY CHUCKS!  Two!  Three!  Four!  Five!"  They're about fist-sized, soft-looking, and generally fluffier than our adult chucks, a.k.a. Chuck and Norris, who are obviously totally in love with each other.  The chuckies' tails are short, wide, and puffy.  Very Bun-like--she watched them with a mixture of alarm, bemusement, and (I'm sure) feelings of kinship. 

I was hypnotized and whispering incoherently, but my also-silently-squeeing Jeff was able to tear himself away from the scene long enough to find his camera.  He took the above photos, and a video.  Gaze upon them in awe, won't you?  Lower left-hand corner chuckie for the major cute win!

Comments

[The Beautiful Kind]

I was talking to some people the other day and they told me about how they had a woodchuck in their neighborhood and everyone thought it was a menace so they set out to poison it. I asked why did people think it was a menace? And a couple folks told me that woodchucks can be vicious, very bad news. Me: "REALLY?? Are you sure you're not talking about badgers, wolverines, martens, tasmanian devils?" And even then, give me a break! I don't see the point in poisoning wildlife. Same thing with people who see a snake and try to kill it. I think it's more dangerous to attack a snake than leave it be.

[JimRhino]

So, keep us updated on how much wood they can REALLY chuck! I've been wondering for years. :)

[GinaE]

Soooooooooooooo freakin' cute!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks for the video, what a treat. Great start to my day!!!

[bj]

Yes they're cute until they eat every blossom in your therapeutic garden and dig crater size holes under your deck!
But, if you don't mind that, enjoy the ephemeral cuteness stage.

And yes, sadly, old grizzled woodchucks, can be very large and vicious. They've attacked small unattended dogs in our neighborhood. And bitten the leg off one skunk. (we called wildlife rescue,; they removed and healed the guy but he cannot be released into the wild as he can no longer fend for himself) Nature can be cruel.

[riverspitter]

We had some of these cuties living under our shed in the back. They chewed off a couple little fruit trees at the base and then it was war! We picked up some humane traps at the humane society, laced them with cabbage, and one by one caught two adults and 2 babies. Super cute, and oh...what big claws they had (that's almost too tempting to leave isn't it?). Anyway, they were taken away safe and sound and now my yard is happier. Now, what to do with the bunnies who have taken up residence under there?