Gopher baby emerges from burrow to nurse from mother

Groundhogs are large rodents that are frequently referred to as gophers, which is actually a smaller cousin. They are all part of a group called ground squirrels. They burrow long tunnels and dens underground, which they will take refuge in at the slightest sign of a threat. They spend most of their day grazing and foraging for food around the entrances to their burrow. They are adorable creatures with their round bellies and furry faces. When they stand on their hind legs to hold food while they nibble it, they are just too cute for words.

This mother gopher was sitting beside her hole after enjoying an apple slice that had been left there, along with a piece of watermelon. After filling her belly with the fruit, she stood and looked around. One of her five babies emerged from the den and decided it was time for a drink of milk.

It's obvious that this gopher is a lactating mother. The baby is the cutest little furball, hardly bigger than a kitten, and he starts trying to latch on to mom for a little milk. She allows this for a moment of two and he seems to get enough before she turns away. He soon decides that if he can't have more milk, he will have some apple.

The baby gopher is old enough now to eat solid food as well as mother's milk. He munches happily on an apple slice while his brother moves in for a peek at the camera. After having a few bites, he clumsily drops the apple in his burrow. He will have to hop down into the hole if he needs any more food.

Baby groundhogs (or gophers) are called pups, kits, or cubs. A mother will have between two and nine young in a litter, born in April. These pups are approximately 7 weeks old at this point and have grown a full coat of thick fur. They are born without any hair and they are completely helpless for several weeks. These pups will eat constantly and will grow quickly so that they will soon be able to fend for themselves.

Gophers are a nuisance to farmers as they bore large holes in pastures that can cause injury to grazing cattle, but in most areas they are harmless. Their furry little faces are completely adorable, especially when they are babies.