It’s Quadruplets For Gussie

Every year since my husband and I moved into our current home, we have had a friendly groundhog living under our shed. “Gus” would appear each spring and we would feed him lettuce, carrots and peanuts. He became quite tame, even going so far as sitting up to beg. About three years ago, Mr. JLG365 came in the house and said to me “Hey babe? Why would Gus have nipples?” I couldn’t believe what I just heard. I had to see this myself. I went out to our deck and called for Gus. He came running and immediately sat up for a shower of peanuts. Sure enough, Gus had two lines of nipples on his belly.

So, we were wrong all along, Gus was not a male, she was a nursing female. Before we knew it, there were four baby groundhogs creeping out from under our shed. They were clumsy but sweet and we could not get enough of them. Since then, my husband and I looked forward to new babies every year. And Gus would not disappoint us, going so far as giving birth to a record eight babies last year!

This year, however, was a bit different. Gus emerged from her winter slumber later in the season and she was very thin. We thought maybe she was sick. She had her nipples, but she usually is a plump watermelon by this time of the year. Mr. JLG365 and I were almost positive there would be no babies this year. Gus was too small and frail. We chalked up the nipples as something that happens each year, even if she is not pregnant. Dogs have nipples and no babies sometimes, right?

Fast forward to today. I walked down to the mailbox and I noticed there was a big tom cat inside the fencing where our neighbors two dogs live. I went over to “tell” the tom that is would be in his best interest to vacate the fenced in yard before the dogs were let out for a romp. The tom did not seem to understand me, though. He just rubbed along the fence, chattering away. Oh well, I thought, I hope this tom can jump.

As I was walking back to our mailbox I heard Mr. JLG365 call out to me. When I got up to our deck, I saw what he was calling out about: babies! That’s right, our frail little Gus did not disappoint us this year after all. She had four beautiful babies. Fluffy and full of curiosity, the babies began to explore the world above the shed. And as we do every year, Mr. JLG365 and I sat in awe at the new life unfolding before us.

Gus and five of her babies last year.

Congratulations, dear Gussie. As always, we will keep you well fed and loved. And I really did not mean it when I said I was glad you weren’t around this year so I could plant flowers. I will take you over a nice row of inpatients any day.