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.
GIANT garden sculptures don't beat about the bush .
Is your cat bored? Do his usual playthings simply not do it for him anymore? Not to worry - there's an app for that .
A mischievous fox cub demonstrates his playful side by biting his sibling’s tail .
A SERENE turquoise glow glimmers from underneath these powerful icebergs .
LUMINOUS green rocks could easily be a beach from Superman's homeland of Krypton .
COURAGEOUS CLIMBERS scale frozen waterfalls in Canada, as the ice threatens to collapse beneath them .
Primed and ready for action, this collection of striking images from the battlefield could be mistaken for authentic photos taking during World War II .
CONTRASTING settings reveal some of England’s most beautiful landscapes in all their glory .
Southern England, the south-west and west Wales have been warned to expect more wild weather, with heavy rain and high tides possibly leading to coastal flooding and travel disruption over the weekend .
More weather chaos is heading our way, with ice and snow already hitting areas across Birmingham .
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 .