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.
Soldiers standing guard outside the Woolwich barracks in London - Two terror suspects are under armed guard in separate hospitals in London after a serving soldier was hacked to death in the street .
NEVER mind being careful not to choke on your food, this mother bird has a bigger challenge on her hands, as her ravenous offspring impatiently launches its head down into her stomach .
SQUEEZING their furry faces through a hole in a tree, a trio of curious baby squirrels leave their nest for the first time to explore their surroundings .
A HEIGHT-addicted airline pilot has taken pictures of the Dubai from 1,300-feet .
ROLLING around in the snow, these young brown bears take a break from their play fight to share a tender hug with one another .
NEW DELHI, A woman activist of India's main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party crosses a police barricade near the residence of ruling Congress party chief Sonia Gandhi during a protest against the recent rape of a five-year-old girl in New Delhi, India, April 21, 2013 .
Going for long rides through vast fields together, this twosome share an unbreakable bond .
SKIPPING on the spot, an adorable little owl embraces the 'running man' challenge .
THIS DANGER-mad female pensioner could be the oldest Brit to cage dive with CROCODILES .
BEAUTIFULLY lit by the dim glow of lanterns, a cave in Iceland is transformed into the perfect wedding venue .
A photographer has captured spellbinding images of stars swirling above the English countryside .
POWERFUL bolts of lightning illuminate the night sky in an incredible autumn storm over the Sardinian coastline .