Snow Community News • By Shirley Taylor

The original Groundhog Day all goes on back north, but I am sure Oklahoma has their own version of the groundhog. Maybe the annoying mole or the gopher that tends to ruin our yards and gardens. Frankly when those critters come popping up we just want to go get the bb gun and try it out on them. All these pests are from the rodent family and frankly I don’t know anyone fond of mice. Unless it would be Minnie for Mickey or visa versa. Groundhogs are also referred to as woodchucks or whistle pigs. They are a member of the squirrel family. There are six species of woodchucks and marmots that occur in the United States. These animals commonly invade cropland and vegetable gardens, eating or destroying vegetables and landscape plants. Although groundhogs are slow runners, they scurry quickly to their dens when they sense danger. The primary predators of groundhogs are hawks, foxes, coyotes, bobcats, dogs and humans. However, motorized vehicles kill many groundhogs each year. Keep reading for more groundhog/woodchuck facts, and to learn how to get rid of groundhogs. Groundhogs are known to burrow in fields and pastures, along fences and roadsides, and near building foundations or the bases of trees, leaving mounds of soil at the dig site. Groundhogs are primarily active during daylight hours, usually feeding in the early morning. They are strict herbivores and eat a variety of vegetables including soybeans, beans, peas, carrot tops, alfalfa and grasses. When not feeding, they are known to sunbathe during the warmest periods of the day.

Groundhogs are among the few mammals that enter into true hibernation, which generally starts in late fall near the end of October and continues until late February. Every year on February 2, people around the country celebrate Groundhog Day, a tradition that centers around the idea of a groundhog emerging from its hibernation to "predict" the weather. If the groundhog sees its shadow and returns to its burrow, there will be six more weeks of winter. But, if the animal does not see its shadow, then spring is right around the corner. The Groundhog Day ceremony featuring Punxsutawney Phil in Pennsylvania is the most popular. All that is fine and good, but I prefer to see them on TV as he makes his way out one way or the other. They seem just as annoying as my before mentioned mole or gophers. The only thing similar we ever cared about was Goober Pyle on Mayberry RFD. From a Pennsylvania superstition that if a groundhog emerging from its burrow on this day sees its shadow due to clear weather, it will retreat to its den and winter will persist for six more weeks; if it does not see its shadow because of cloudiness, spring will arrive early. We here in Snow will depend on our favorite weatherman.

Keep Feb 19th on your calendar for the next Potluck at the Snow Community Building. Dinner will be at 5:30. All are invited to bring their favorite dish and enjoy friends, fellowship and laughter. There will always be a covered dish that you will want the recipe. I didn’t include the recipe for the Death by Chocolate Cake I brought last potluck. You will need: (19.8 ounce) package brownie mix , 2 (3.9) ounce packages instant chocolate pudding mix, 1 16 ounce package frozen whipped topping, thawed, 3 (1.4) bars chocolate covered English toffee. Prepare brownies according to package directions. Let cool. Mix pudding according to package directions. In a glass punch bowl, layer in the following order: 1/2 of the brownie, crumbled; 1/2 of the pudding; 1 toffee bar, crushed; 1/2 of the whipped topping. Repeat layers in the same order. Save the last toffee bar to crumble and sprinkle on top before serving. Refrigerate. Best if made the day before you serve it.

Please keep all our family and friends in your prayers. This season can bring aches and pains and be hard for some to enjoy the time as others. The crazy weather isn’t helping with the temps going from 32 one day and back to72 the very next. Please keep in mind the recycling containers in front of the Snow Community building. The funds taken from these donations are turned back into the building for the upkeep and maintenance. Any and all help with this is appreciated. Please refrain from throwing your trash in the recycle container. There is another trash can to the side of the building that you can use. Also, the Finley Community normally has a lunch on each Friday at noon. Finley also celebrated the holidays with their residents as well. Days that they are not open or only doing take outs will be posted on their Facebook page. Anyone wanting to add to the article please turn them in before Friday at 5 p.m. Additions can be emailed to me at: freylake123@yahoo.com or call me at 580-208-0870, Have a blessed week.