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.
AT 4,800 metres high and just three metres wide, this is the most dangerous road in the world .
A brave praying mantis makes an unusual friend in an Oriental garden lizard .
An adorable orangutan named Pongo celebrates his first birthday at Zoo Atlanta, Georgia, America .
A terrified moose, trapped in a frozen lake, bobs her head above the icey water and awaits her rescue .
WITH A LITTLE cap of fresh snow resting on his head, this squirrel tries his best to pull off his new look .
A TAXIDERMY truck spotted in America’s Deep South could be the most gruesome wagon on the road .
This is the amazing moment two white-tailed kites take an in-flight meal - exchanging prey at 100 foot high in mid air .
A group of shelter dogs showcase their loveable personalities in a series of passport-style photographs - in the hope of finding their forever homes .
FORGET Thorpe Park this summer as this is a 50 mile-per-hour ride over the Colorado River CANYON .
A lively lemon shark grins into the camera and showcases his impressive teeth .
This longhorn beetle demon-strates a dark side as it looks just like the devil .