At the beginning of Feburary (the 4th) I saw this groundhog on my trail camera and this is the first time this happened. (During past years I would see them out in late March) I thought it was going to stay out for a brief period to look for a mate and then go back to hibernating but he has been out everyday since the fourth, even being around when there’s snow on the ground. It is just roaming around, scent marking branches and logs. The temperatures have been 40 degrees at the highest and 20 at the lowest. Along with that, on somedays it would appear very early in the morning, usually between the hours of 4 and 6 when it was cold and windy.
So I’m curious as to find out why it didn’t go back to hibernating after coming out in early Feburary and why is it out when it’s dark out. Is that when it starts the day? Is it warm enough for it while it’s bitterly cold to us? Did it not eat enough to prepare for hibernation last fall?