Groundhog in Heckscher State Park

Yesterday when I was walking along the bicycle path in Heckscher, I saw a groundhog (also known as a woodchuck).  I wasn't able to get a decent photo of it, so I was happy to see it again today. It was chewing on grass, but occasionally stopped to give itself a good vigorous scratch. Perhaps it was trying to remove the ticks (A large one surrounded by several smaller ones) on the left side of its head.  I'm beginning to believe that the ticks are taking over the world, or at least the parks.