Don Balke: Woodchuck and White Oak

Artist: Don Balke
1932 -
Nationality: American
Artwork Year: 1980
Image Size: 13.5 by 12 inches
Overall Size: 25 by 20.25 inches
Medium: Water Color on Water Color Paper

As summer progresses, the pudgy Woodchuck, sometimes called a ground hog, gorges himself on greens beneath the welcome shade of Maryland's state tree, the White Oak. Unlike other animals, which store grub for the long winter, this waddling rodent stores up fat by consuming up to a pound of green food each day. In September, the plump, lethargic Woodchuck turns in for the winter. For several months he hibernates in his underground nest, curled up in a tight ball. His respiration and heartbeat almost stop, and his body temperature may drop as low as forty degrees. According to tradition, the ground hog wakes up from his winter's nap on February 2. He pokes his furry head out of his den to check on the weather, and his shadow predicts the upcoming spring. If the sun is shining, the Woodchuck becomes frightened by his shadow and returns to his cozy nest for six more weeks of winter. If it is a cloudy day and no shadow scares the ground hog away, spring is scheduled to arrive early; however, these weather forecasts are not always accurate. The Woodchuck, usually a lovable rodent, can also be a pest. He plunders gardens and hayfields, where he digs holes and heaps the dirt in dangerous mounds that ruin farm machinery. Occasionally, a bounty on ground hogs encourages their decline as men poison their dens. And, they often fall prey to red foxes which dig them out of their burrows. But the world's favorite weather forecaster still flourishes, producing four or five youngsters each spring.

This art was originally published in the limited edition collection of philatelic proofcards issued by Fleetwood® and the National Audubon Society for the Wildlife of the 50 States.

Artwork Copyright © 1980 Unicover Corporation. All Rights Reserved under United States and international copyright laws. You may not reproduce, distribute, transmit, or otherwise exploit the Artwork in any way. Images of the Artwork may be watermarked and/or digitally watermarked. Any sale of the physical original does not include or convey the Copyright or any right comprised in the copyright.

Our Stock Number (SKU): XB05934

US$ Price: $1,250.00

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