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.
A brave praying mantis makes an unusual friend in an Oriental garden lizard .
AN EXERCISING turtle and an ice-skating chick are hardly everyday exploits in the animal community .
SPURTING water 20ft into the air, this is one well you wouldn't want to dip your bucket into .
MESMERIZING night sky photographs offer a spellbinding look at the stars .
THE THOUGHT OF BECOMING shipwrecked on a remote destination would fill most holidaymakers with dread .
A Romanian photographer has captured the unique patterns of hundreds of human eyes in a series of striking macro shots .
WITH their robotic movements and pristine uniforms, these are the sexy traffic girls of North Korea that are becoming iconic figures in the secretive state .
AN ADORABLE one-eyed kitten has been dubbed the 'pirate cat' because of his pirate-like facial expressions .
A cheeky chipmunk offers some of his spare food, before deciding against the idea and shoving the extra peanut into his already crammed mouth .
WELCOME to the pretty 122-inch-tall red dwelling that lays claim to the title of the UK's smallest house .
THIS LITTLE squirrel tries to keep himself snug as snow starts to fall around him .
A photographer has captured stunning photographs of the Milky Way above picturesque landscapes in the UK and Italy .