WITH a paw in the air and his tongue hanging from his mouth, it is clear to see that this little groundhog is struggling to wake up and leave behind the comfort of his burrow. The groundhog takes a moment to stretch before quickly becoming aware that he's not alone. The adorable scene was captured in the Tonale Pass, a high mountain pass in Trentino Alto Adige, Italy, by freelance photographer Maurizio Lancini. The 39-year-old, of Rodengo Saiano, Brescia, Italy, says:"I spotted the entrance to the burrow so decided to hide nearby and wait for the groundhog to appear.
DIVING boffins fired harpoons into 30-foot-long whale sharks in a bid to put the sea-beasts on Google Maps .
The aurora lights captured in Blair Nebraska, America - WITH electrifying purple and illuminous green brightening up the night sky, this is the rare moment a flash of 'sprite' lightening was captured on camera .
CONTRASTING settings reveal some of England’s most beautiful landscapes in all their glory .
The claws come out at meal time as a group of white tailed eagles brawl over road-kill .
SQUABBLING over the last piece of grain, these hungry squirrels are determined to stock up on as much food as possible .
SNUGGLED up in the hay away from the elements, this adorable hoglet has sought solace with a familiar friend .
From vivid greens to glowing pinks, the colours of the aurora borealis fill the night sky above a snow covered Lapland .
SOARING through the air, this is the moment a hungry tawny owl arrives home with dinner .
At least three people have been killed and more than 100 injured, some seriously, in two explosions at the finish line of the Boston Marathon .
LEAF-ing much to the imagination, this camera trickery is blooming marvellous .
A Little owl looks down the lens of a camera and gives the photographer a cheeky wink .
PERCHED on a branch, these two frogs hold hands as they look into the camera .