According to a press release provided by the National Wildlife Federation (http://www.nwf.org), which quotes a study reported in National Wildlife magazine, America’s most famous weather forecaster will have love, not weather, on his mind when he emerges from his hole today. Celebrity groundhog Punxsutawney Phil is not looking for his shadow, he’s speed dating!
     The research tracked 32 groundhogs for more than four years and concluded that the real reason for the early February appearance is a version of the dating game, groundhog style.

Speed dating
     Groundhogs – which are actually male woodchucks – awake after three months of hibernation to check out the available pool of ladies within their territory. They select a female with whom to spend the night, and this sleepover acts as a first date, allowing the woodchucks time to get to know each other before the official start of mating season the following month. During these meet and greet sessions, contact is confined to rubbing noses – not going all the way.
     After scoping out two or three females, the male groundhog returns to his burrow to sleep again until March, dreaming of the hotties he has just met. When he awakes and revisits each of the females, the earlier slumber parties allows the woodchucks to skip the small talk and get right down to breeding.
     This type of courting ritual has not been found to occur in any other animal species.
     Head researcher for the study, Stam Zeverano from Pennsylvania State University’s Berks-Lehigh Valley College, thinks it may be connected to the small window of time during which offspring must be born for survival. A baby groundhog that enters the world too early may not be able to find enough food. One that arrives too late may not be able to build up enough fat layers for winter hibernation.
      “There are many ways different wildlife species find mates and this report on groundhog ‘dating’ behavior demonstrates that finding the right match is very important to the survival of the species,” says Dr. Doug Inkley, senior scientist for the National Wildlife Federation. “Why else would Phil drag himself out of a cozy warm den in the middle of winter?”

http://www.groundhog.org/

Good morning! 

Glad you're getting those feet back on the ground Jane! 

Bippies!  I've heard the word, but never seen it in print.....   Too funny! 

Thanks macca for all the Groundhog info!  Who knew they were such Cassanovas!!

Courtesy of: http://www.groundhog.org/

Last edited on Feb 2nd, 2007 12:08 pm by Jim Flynt

OH GOODNESS!  SO SORRY JIMBO!!!!

Thanks to YOU for the Groundhog info!!! 

 Congratulations

CJ

Bippy.. gosh that made me laugh

It's a good thing you are being nicer today bama... I sure hope you feel better.

I don't know how the whole 4k thing happened.  It just sorta snuck up on me.

Thanks for the congrats!   (3 line max. bama black)