Greta the Groundhog

by Sir Wally

Greta is a real groundhog, living at a place called Deer Acres Zoo in a small town in Arkansas. She is one year old and was fed with a baby bottle by her owner Alvin. She shares the small Zoo with deer, sheep, birds, other groundhogs, monkeys, some reptiles and even camels. Although hand raised, sometimes Greta bites Alvin but it is a "light" nibble and it is her way to let him know she is ready to be put down. She likes monkey chow and hot dogs and naturally she likes her veggies. Alvin notes this is one reason humans don't like groundhogs...they get into the garden and eat the crops. When Groundhog Day arrives, Alvin gets a call from a local radio station but he does not always do much with Greta. He took another groundhog to the bigger city once and it got loose. Thankfully, it was found but for safety, Greta usually stays at home. Greta's home, the Zoo, has been open quite a long time and Alvin says the hardest part is when the animals die. The family often gets really attached to them and they keep them all their lives.