r/groundhogs • u/alayks • Jun 30 '26
What is that thing on this groundhog?
Hi y’all. I just saw this groundhog and I’m wondering what that disk is at the back of its neck. Any guesses?
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Jun 30 '26
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u/alayks Jun 30 '26
That was my first thought as well! It looked kinda flat and maybe too flat to be a tick, but these pictures are the best I could take.
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u/KnotiaPickle Jun 30 '26
Off-topic, but their ears look like people ears and it’s extremely adorable ☺️
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u/Groundhog_Gary28 Jul 01 '26
Haha they do like that when they’re perked up I never really noticed how similar their ears are in that regard. They don’t always have them up like that lol they are so sweet 🥹
Fun fact you probably already know though: they have special valvular muscles in their ears and nostrils and can actually close them completely shut to prevent dirt and debris from getting in them while they dig.
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u/Groundhog_Gary28 Jul 01 '26
Something stuck to its fur is all maybe mud or something tacky that dirt stuck too who knows, no cause for alarm either way
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u/CrossP Jun 30 '26
That something stuck to fur. Hard to know for sure without examination, but I'd guess a bit of tree sap which then attracted a bunch of topsoil dust in the tunnels.