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.
WONDERS of the world have been transformed into their mini-versions in a seven-year round the world adventure .
A brave leopard kicks back and relaxes in the sunshine - just inches from an enormous crocodile .
WELCOME to the pretty 122-inch-tall red dwelling that lays claim to the title of the UK's smallest house .
A soap bubble lands on the frosty ground and creates a shimmering snow globe as crystals form around it .
AN American accountant has grown the world's biggest MELON and smashed his way into the record books with his mammoth 350 .
Suspended FIFTY metres in the air, this is the last place that you would expect to find a fine dining experience .
SEA LIFE and greenery in one shot show nature at its very best .
SPLASHING around in a paddling pool, this little elephant soaks up the sunshine .
A middle spotted woodpecker swoops into her nest and feeds her young in a forest in Trentino, Italy .
A PENSIONER was left with a fractured jaw after being beaten and robbed outside his home in Birmingham last weekend .
Daniel Blore, 21, of Innage Crescent, Bridgnorth, stabbed his mother three times in the attack on January 11 this year, Stafford Crown Court heard .
FLOATING effortlessly on his back, this little otter laps up a rare glimmer of English spring sunshine .