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.
HIDDEN in the middle of the Mojave Desert, a secret oasis awaits intrepid travellers .
Like a scene from a fairytale, THOUSANDS of fireflies create an enchanting glow as they dance in a forest .
A northern potoo shows it is a master of disguise as it perches on a tree stump and blends into the bark .
A disabled sheep is enjoying a new fleece of life after receiving a specially-designed wheelchair .
Raising his arms above his head and lying flat on his back, a polar bear stretches as he sprawls out across the ice .
A British photographer has captured the beauty of London in a stunning series of landscapes shots .
An Australian beach is illuminated by an enticing neon blue glow as a rare phenomenon lights up the water .
Pic By HotSpot Media - PARROT RIDES ON THE TUBE - THIS pretty boy could be forgiven for forgetting his Oyst-aaarrrgh-card .
With luminous colours and alien- like features, these magical mushrooms look like they belong on another planet .
THIS is the incredible moment a pelican throws a fish into the air and SLAM DUNKS it into its enormous throat sack .
LOCATIONS bursting with vibrant greens and chestnut browns, these photographs capture the peaceful English countryside in all its glory .