---

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, February 6, 1993                   TAG: 9302050421
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-9   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

---

MALE GROUNDHOGS ARE ON THE LAM

I WAS VERY annoyed that the Roanoke Times & World-News would publish such a poorly researched commentary as the one Bill Sampson wrote (Jan. 31, "When this hog hits the hay, he's there to stay") about groundhogs.

Groundhogs can be seen in winter, especially at this time of year. This is because just before giving birth to her young, usually around February, the female groundhog forces the male from the den and often violently chases him away. Sampson's poorly informed article suggests that seeing a groundhog in midwinter is absurd. The only absurd ideas are his. ROGER SHIELDS MARION

---