Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-02
OUTWITS GROUNDH0G
KEEPER AT THEZOO FLANKS HIM
AT HISsTHREsHoLD.
Prevented From Returning to His Nest
This Morning-Revenge on
Cool Darons.

:" Ground hog day. and the ground hog out
witted! This is the good news that comes
from the Geological Park, where the local
woodchuck5 sage makes his home, and it
means that the probability OF six weeks more
OF winter has been averted. The old belief has
1t that II the ground hog sees his shadow on
the I'd OF February when he comes out to
take an airing after a winters nap he is
frightened and Immediately disappears for
another snooze in the warm interior Of his
earthen dwelling. ~-- .:.:-.
- Ordinarily the ground hog would have fol-
lowed this proceeding this morning, for the
sun often broke through the fffmsy clouds
with strength enough to throw a we'll
defined shadow. But the news from the
Zoo Is to the effect that the ground hog did
not return to his hole! =.
Dr. Baker, Superintendent of the park,
declares the thanks of all Neutrality-suspicious.
are due to one Of his best keepers, who for
some time past has been at, work. on a
scheme to outchuck the woodchuck. This
particular Keeper has beenfaeing eleven
atom coal bill all winter. With the ap-
proach of ground hog day. fraught with SO
much significance in regard to the weather.
the Keeper" generated his forces and pre-
pared for action
eff there's any chance of that little
arctomys monaxsy seeing himself when he
comes out Monday I'll fix his business"
declared the ingenious keeper.
Sentinel Placed on Guard.
So it happened that sentinel was posted
at the entrance to the woodchuck's hole
In the ground this mornig with strict or
ders and no chance for a mistake. When
the sentinel observed signs Of life beneath
the soft dirt at the door, he discreetly hid
himself behind friendly tree hard by.
d, Cautiously, timidly wise beyond his sta
ton. the grounding poked his grizzly nose
forth into the world. The day was gray
and the hour early. There We're no shadows
lurking in the woodland. Timidity gave way
to boldness, so the story goes, and the
little rodent frisked about in playful man
ner. When he had gone some six or eight
feet from his dwelling place the sentinel
sprang from the lee of the sheltering tree.
The Woodchuck darted inStinctively toward
his happy home but the keeper had gained
the Threshold first. Turning quickly again
the frightened animal fled away. The keep
er unceremoniouSly, but effectively, block
AIDED the entrance to the woodchucks home,
so he could not return.
The Woodchuck will now have to call all
his powers of weather witchery to bear in
favor of a good season and early spring
or he Will have to suffer the consequences
with his observation-disclosures of this section.
The keeper believes the grounding will de-
eide in favor of good weather. Today is
so balmy and spring=like the hog should be
delighted to roam at large even If he has
lOSt a nome.
This is a true story of the outwitting Of
the grounding, as it comes direct from
the folks at the Zooy who are congratulate
ing themselves over fnventing a new scheme
to get the better Of the coal barons.
The Woodchuck Family.
AS matter Of fact there are a large
number of ground hogs, woodchucks, as
they are commonly named, within the Zoo
Park inclosure and they may be seen any
balmy day by those who are fortunate
enough to happen across one Of their abid-
ing places. The animals are very wary
however, and take fright at the first sign
of human life In their vicinity. Once cap
tured, they are easily tanned and are very
Clearly. The little fellows range from Is
to 10 inches in length. They are classed
a large rodent of the common type, except
that the tail is short, and bushy, instead of
thin and long. on the ordinary rat. The
color of the grounding varies from black
ish to grizzled above and chestnut red be-
low; the feet areAalways dark The form
is thick and clumsy, the neck being hardly
apparent; head broad and fiat, legs short
and thick; the nose Is wide, lips full and
feshy, eyes small and ears short, feet large
and naked below. The hair or coat is
mouth are long and stout. The wood
chucks pass the winter in their burrows in
lethargic state. These burrows are con-
structed on a very ingenious plan. The
holes are very deep usually and slanting in
direction, at first upward, to keep out the
water and then downward, with several
compartments. Sometimes they have more
than one entrance. So If the woodchuck
returns this evening and enters by door
way the keeper knew not Of and harsh
that the best laid plans O. mice and men"
often gang otherwise than intended.