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What began as a sightseeing trip in southwestern China turned into an unusual rescue mission when a groundhog ran off with a tourist’s car keys, prompting an entire village to help recover them. The incident took place on August 3 in Genie Town, Litang County of China’s Sichuan province, according to the South China Morning Post (SCMP).
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A netizen nicknamed “Dog Brother” shared that while he and his friends were exploring, a groundhog darted out, grabbed his car keys, and disappeared into its burrow.
Fang, one of the group members, recalled that her child had been feeding the animals with snacks and fruit they had brought from their car. The family had placed the treats in a bag along with a mobile phone and car keys.
“To my surprise, while my attention was diverted, a groundhog not only ‘stole’ snacks from the bag but, right before my family’s eyes, dragged the car keys into its burrow,” Fang told China Jiangxi Radio and TV Station, as cited by SCMP.
Initial attempts to retrieve the keys with a stick failed, prompting the group to seek help from local villagers. Villagers and tourism volunteers arrived to assist, turning the moment into a community-wide operation.
They tried steel wires, magnets, and other makeshift tools, with even the village head and Party secretary joining in. The search lasted from 3 pm to 7 pm before the keys were finally retrieved with the help of a strong magnet.
The story was widely shared in Chinese social media, with many users joking about the mischievous animals. One comment read: “The groundhog is probably in its burrow recording a video: ‘Hey everyone, I just got myself a new car today!’” Another joked: “With a sports camera and now car keys, these groundhogs could start their travel vlogs.”
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According to SCMP, the quirky episode followed a similar incident in Litang County just a month earlier, when a groundhog dragged a tourist’s sports camera into its burrow. Unlike the car keys, the camera was never recovered.
In response, local authorities have reminded visitors not to feed groundhogs, warning of potential health risks and the risk of bites that could cause infection.
(With inputs from SCMP)
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