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Groundhog refuses to leave historic house

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SAGINAW, Mich., Aug. 14 (UPI) -- The caretaker of the oldest house in Saginaw, Mich., has been trying for years to evict a groundhog who lives under the handicapped entrance.

So far, Thomas B. Mudd’s efforts have turned Grumpy the Groundhog into a local celebrity, The Saginaw News reported.

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"Grumpy has taken on kind of a cult status," Mudd said. "People hate groundhogs, but he's just so cute."

The groundhog originally moved into a pile of dirt while the Saginaw Valley Historic Preservation Society was renovating the 163-year-old house. The dirt is gone, but Grumpy remains.

Mudd has tried a number of steps to get rid of Grumpy. Grumpy, when ammonia and moth balls were put down his hole, moved them out again.

Trapping him was even less successful. Mudd took him to a park some distance away. A few days later, Grumpy was home again.

"This is a game for Grumpy," Mudd said. "Grumpy was almost happy to see me. We were back to the old battle."

Mudd has mixed feelings about moving Grumpy out since children always ask about the groundhogs and Chippewa Indians say he may be the house’s guardian spirit.

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