It was Groundhog Day at a Metro Self Storage location in Charleston, N.Y., last week when a furry critter some mistook for a beaver spent part of the day running in circles in the facility parking lot. The creature has since been identified as a groundhog by officials from the Staten Island Zoo.
Although rabbits, deer and raccoons are not uncommon in the area, facility manager Kelly McLoughlin said she was amused by the animals presence and demeanor. "He seemed very friendly, she said. He kept going around in circles. He seemed like he was a little lost."
With summer temperatures rising, the groundhog may have been looking for a cool place to rest, choosing to stay near the office door. Its presence deterred at least one customer from crossing its path, McLoughlin said.
The animal was captured by local police and released in the woods near the property. Zoo officials identified the groundhog from images taken during his visit to the self-storage facility.
Metro Self Storage is the brand name of Metro Storage LLC, which operates 100 locations in 12 states, including three in New York.
