Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1928-02-17

Another old superstition has been
pulverized-this. stuff about the
grounding coming out OF Information
to a a peek at the skies on Feb. 2.
1t is a myth, mates, pure n simple.
For six years a pet grounding has made
its home in the yard at the residence OF
Mr.. and Mrs. Henry Benz OF Butte. Fol-
six years close observation has revealed
to members OF the family that "Ouija,'
as the woodchuck is called, never leaves
his burrow until the last week in April
Pulls Hole In After 1t
"Oui1a' crawls into the burrow during
the last week of July, fills In the burrow
behind 1t, and remains obscured for nine
months. MIR. Grounding does not store
food way in the burrow for those long
winter evenings. Instead he eats raven
ously during the summer months, puts
on a good thick upholstery OF fat, and
q few weeks after the excitement of the
Fourth OF July f~1recrackers a passed,
crawls into his burrow for the nice, long
rest many humans would like about that
time of year.
Captured on Jerry Greek
"Ouija" was captured on Jerk creek
near the Big Hole basin. when Just q
baby woodchuck, six years ago. The lit
tie fellow wa seen to run into a small
iron pipc. ostrich-like, thinking to hide
from the picnic party. Someone picked
up the pipe and put it In the automobile,
and that's how "Ouija' went t o Butte.
The Ben family gave the little ball of
fur a name and a home under the front
porch Of their home. At first q pen was
built for the little woodland guest, but
1t was soon found this was not neces-
free to come and go, but has never left
the yard Of the Benz home.
Likes Candy and Ice Cream
"Ouija's" f~avorite articles OF diet are
candy and ice cream. Little Charlotte
Carver, niece Of Mrs. Benz, Is a constant
summer playmate OF the unusual pet.
Through Charlotte's friendship. "Ouija'
has grown extremely fond OF sweets, just
like any other six-year-old.
The pet during the summer months
goes to the door Of the house and chirps
II someone should bring a chair to the
porch, "Ouija" will climb up on the chair
to survey hts little world. The pet doesn't
mind being petted, but strenuously OBJ
Jects to being picked up.
"'Ouija' is just q normal groundhog,'
says Mrs. Benz, "and his conduct entirely
~disagrees with the superstition OF
grounding day. We ave observed. our
little pet at close range for six years. and
he never comes out Of Information until
the last week Of April, regardless of the
earliness or lateness of spring.
Not Interested in Shadows
When he does come out. he is more
interested in food than in shadows. He
frequently eats all day long in the sum
mer. When he goes into Information
during the last week in July, he is roly
poly with fat. When. he comes out In
April he is meager. gaunt and %ravenous.
He doesn't store food in his burrow, but
only in his tummy. He is perfectly tame,
like a well-domesticated cat or dog, APP
parently has no longing for the woods
or the fellowship of his kind. and is
chiefly concerned in fattening himself
for the long winter Sleep
So there goes another illusion of our
childhood days. along with the supersti-
ton that a hair from a horses tail, II
allowed to soak in water for several days,
would turn into q snake, and the one
that any journey begun OF a Friday was
bound TO end in disaster.