Kudzu was imported for cattle food but has not been as glorious as our Agriculture Department had hoped. It's a vine that has taken over many forest and roadside banks and has devastated farms and destroyed valuable natural plants. It has, however, helped in some ways to cover up some very ugly spots. Not many miles from where I live, during the summer there is a beautiful green valley with rolling waves of kudzu vines. But during the winter, this lush green valley becomes an ugly valley of rusted, beat up old automobiles. Even here woodchucks have found a home under the old cars and are getting fat on the kudzu. On the good side, this kudzu plant has helped to prevent erosion in many areas where loggers carelessly cut down the forest for timber. It also has provided some food for cows and the blossoms provide nectar for hummingbirds and for bees to make their honey.

Woodchucks, or groundhogs, have learned to live around people and even have learned to dine on human table scraps. However, this is not a good practice. Soon they work toward your garden and that's where the groundhog wars begin. These fat, little rascals can dig under a fence or turn a small hole in the fence into a much bigger one and even occasionally climb over the fence. On one occasion I watched one climb up a tree 8 or 10 feet above ground to eat some young leaves, so they can be fairly good climbers. We have had them for pets and if they have been caught very young can be easily tamed. The problem is, when they are grown and weigh 15 to 20 pounds what are you going to do with them then? The best way to enjoy this unique creature is at a distance. If one makes his home under your house or under your shed, get a professional to come out to trap and move him back to the woods. Usually they have multiple den entrances making it very difficult to get rid of them by one's self.

Since the late 1800's here in America, the tradition of Groundhog Day has been observed. This is a fun day and is an excuse for many people to visit the home of Punxsutawney Phil the most famous groundhog in the world. This is the time that he comes out of his hole and predicts the weather for the next 6 weeks. An old legend says that if a groundhog comes out of his hole on February 2nd and sees his shadow there will be 6 more weeks of winter. If no shadow is seen there will be an early spring. Old Phil has been making these predictions for over 119 years and who really cares if he's right or wrong. It was fun and Phil has been a great ambassador for groundhogs and other animals.

For the most part, groundhogs are very secretive except when you see them eating along the roadside. They don't seem to be afraid of cars. Their burrows connect under ground and some rooms are lined with grass and dead leaves and are used for beds where they hibernate and have their young. Remember this is all done in the dark, sometimes 10 to 15 feet under ground. These little diggers have cousins all across America like the marmot and prairie dog. Old groundhog burrows also provide homes for snakes, lizards and box turtles in the winter.

It has been my experience that many people who don't claim any religious beliefs at all, still have a respect and understanding of nature's wisdom. Often as I turn the pages of the Bible, I can see down through the ages where mankind has turned a blind eye or ear to the wisdom so abundantly available to them in the world of nature. If we would only learn from history, this planet would have so many less problems. But nations rarely change do they? Pray for wisdom and knowledge and God will bless you and give you insight to the world He created.

Burney Tompkins

    - Uncle Burney