Baby gophers adorably squabble over yummy apple slices

Gophers are adorable creatures with lovable faces. Their babies are even more adorable, looking more likes stuffed toys than wild animals. These are actually groundhogs, a close relative of the gopher, but in many places the two names are used interchangeably. These two are part of a litter of four little balls of fur that are just discovering the world around them. They were born at the tail end of winter, spending their first few weeks huddled in the warm burrow with their mother, several feet under the ground. They nursed and grew, feeding on milk that she was making from fat stores while she slept off the last few weeks of winter.

The sun has been shining and the world around these babies has sprung to life. The grass is fresh and green and the flowers are blooming. The little fellows are discovering lots of good things to eat, including some apple slices that were left for them at the entrance to their burrow. At this size, they don't venture far from the hole - but in this case they've made an exception!