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.
An adorable little squirrel wakes from a nap and pops out his tongue for the camera .
WONDERS of the world have been transformed into their mini-versions in a seven-year round the world adventure .
THIS RING of fire in the sky is the annular solar eclipse that wowed our cousins down-under .
EAGERLY BITING his nails, this little squirrel is clearly nervous of looming predators as he searches for his meal .
A SPECTRUM of colours fills the sky during this spectacular and natural display of light .
With the vivid red smoke billowing into the sky amid the misty sand dunes, these are the blissful views provided at the break of dawn at a volcano .
TUGGING on the wing of his sibling, this needy owl is after some attention .
Surveying its surroundings, a tiny harvest mouse climbs the stem of a dandelion .
SITTING on a burning sofa unable to move, one man turns his terrifying dreams into reality .
Sitting all alone on drift ice in the Arctic Ocean, this lonely little fella looks lost .
WITH the phosphorescent blobs and mesmerising patterns, these spectacular images may look like the hall marks of an enchanted forest but it is in fact the scene of thousands of dancing FIREFLIES .