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.
WEARING tiny Christmas accessories, these adorable babies get into the spirit of the season .
A fox takes a tumble and lands on his head when he tries to fend off a pair of eagles in Japan .
From the rolling hills of the Brecon Beacons to the still waters in the Lake District, these photographs capture autumnal landscapes across Great Britain perfectly .
A ROAD KILL munching Scot has chewed on everything from a dead squirrel to an unlucky crow – all in the name of art .
GLIDING through the water, these delightful frogs show off their vibrant colours as they practice their FROG crawl .
Sophie Carr, 23, from Swindon, was just six when her older brother Alex, then 12, abused her during a game of mummies and daddies .
This hungry white tiger has just one thing on her mind - to taste fresh meat .
Hot on the heels of a little rabbit, this cheetah is on a mission to catch his prey .
THIS LITTLE squirrel tries to keep himself snug as snow starts to fall around him .
THIS BIGFOOT 'Jesus bird' may look silly, but he's perfectly designed for walking on water .
HMS Ark Royal arrives in the Turkish port of Aliaga at the ship scrapping firm Leyal’s yard .
The San Antonio Zoo in Texas has welcomed a bizarre new addition - a two-headed turtle named Thelma and Louise .