Daughter to Missouri Mabel https://pbase.com/britestar/missouri_mabel_and_her_brood

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Knowing me by sight, Maude will come quite close... Often too close for a telephoto lens to focus. Even so, I still do my best to remain a respectful distance from all wildlife. Groundhogs are normally extremely skitterish around humans. However, since I have always been a non-threatening part of her "world" since she was a baby first emerging, this female does not seem to feel overly wary of me and will tolerate my presence.

Strangely, during chance encounters, we will often make closeup (under 6 feet), direct eye contact while I don't have a camera in my hand. She sometimes unexpectedly (and deliberately) will come close to me. Looking into each other's eyes is like I'm trying to understand her & she's trying to understand me. Nevertheless, she is still a totally wild animal. Therefore, I try to keep my distance and never approach her.