Sso, it’ss ground hog’ss day again, iss it? Ssay your s-ss with a whisstle and you can ssound like the gopher in Walt Dissney’ss “Winne-the-Pooh”. He’ss a favorite character for ssure and a good excusse to practisse your whisstling sskillss. Ssee what i mean?
Here’s the news from Pennsylvania reported by TODAY: “Around 7:30 a.m. local time, Phil’s handler retrieved him from his burrow, and the president of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club said that Phil did indeed see his shadow…which means six more weeks of winter are ahead.”
It’s probably safer to be a ground hog in the Keystone State than a prairie dog in South Dakota. Hunting season is year round with no limit to the number of black-tailed prairie dogs you may shoot. It’s a way to control the prolific population and protect grasslands from degradation.
watch prairie dog town
heads pop up, tails disappear
curious critters
a poem in my pocket 
Feb 03, 2026 @ 02:08:17
There were no gophers in the Hundred Acre Wood! But I would love to see one.
Feb 03, 2026 @ 12:15:11
Only in the Disney movie, i guess 🙂
Feb 03, 2026 @ 01:18:37
I guess that the praire dogs has to be controlled becuase there is some predators lost….. not easy.
Feb 02, 2026 @ 23:56:32
Bundle up a little longer, warm wishes
Thanks for dropping by my blog, Lynn
much love
Feb 02, 2026 @ 22:11:49
So I take it the picture is of a prairie dog, not a gopher? Seems a cute wee thing; a shame if it needs to be culled.
Feb 02, 2026 @ 23:00:37
Yes, this photo is a prairie dog but I wonder if it’s just another name for gopher or groundhog? They are cute and fun to watch!
Feb 03, 2026 @ 05:02:15
Ah, I did wonder if perhaps they were different names for the same critter, and if you meant to suggest that. As none of them are animals ever seen or spoken of in this country, I can only guess.
Feb 03, 2026 @ 12:14:16
Now i have something to research…thanks 🙂
Feb 02, 2026 @ 22:01:01
Thiss wass ssure ssomething sspecial — and wonderful Lynn… 😏
Feb 02, 2026 @ 23:01:30
Thanks, Rob 😀
Feb 02, 2026 @ 20:09:53
Oh d d d dear. Or prairie dog or groundhog or whatever. hehe Nicely done for your haibun.
Feb 02, 2026 @ 23:03:16
Maybe it’s a piglet 😉
Feb 02, 2026 @ 19:31:10
I counted on Phil, and he let me down… again! 🤣
Feb 02, 2026 @ 23:04:44
Yes, we’ve had our “phil” of winter already!
Feb 02, 2026 @ 19:22:25
Funny.
Feb 02, 2026 @ 18:05:07
so Phil has spoken. I ssssee. Lovely haibun
Feb 02, 2026 @ 19:07:05
ThankssSSSelma!
Feb 02, 2026 @ 17:25:18
Great Haibun, Lynn. They can be a nuisance, especially on farms and around outbuilding foundations!