The Oregon Zoo uses Filbert the Beaver to choose between two treats next to parchment rolls with the prediction on them, and they go by his choice.
Credit: Graeme MacKay
The groundhog tradition goes all the way to Feb. 2, 1877, when a newspaper editor named Clymer Freas started the event. Freas was a member of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club. A hunting club. Shoot the ugly rodents.
Each year, the Inner Circle, who wear top hats and speak the Pennsylvania Dutch dialect, get together at Gobbler's Knob to get Punxsutawney Phil's prediction.
There is a question as to whether the tradition is worthwhile because his accuracy is only 39%. Flipping a coin is a lot easier and more accurate, but not as fun as the thousands that visit Punxsutawney find each year.
Credit: John Darkow
The results are in for 2025. Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow today. Six more weeks of winter.
We'll just have to see if his prediction is right this year.
Political cartoonists are having a field day using the day as an analogy to living with Trump as president. Rightfully so.
But, did you know that are numerous groundhog prognosticators around the country besides Phil. Even ones in Canada, our 51st state. The link keeps track of them all.
Jimmy the Groundhog in Wisconsin says it's going to be an early spring. Hmm, conflicting groundhogs. Who do you pick? The original or the wannabes?
Like Stumptown Fil, the beaver, there are many other animals that are used for the prediction.
There's Lucy the Lobster from Canada. She says more winter this year.
Snohomish Slew is a bullfrog from Snohomish, Washington.
Bee Cave Bob is an armadillo from Bee Cave Texas, where they have renamed the day as Armadillo Day.
Sand Mountain Sam is an opossum from Alabama. He predicted an early spring.
Scramble the Duck is a Pekin duck from Connecticut, where it is "Duck Day". Scramble predicted an early spring.
Big Al is an alligator from Beaumont, Texas. I don't think I want to know how he makes his prediction. He's 92 years old. They throw him a chicken breast. If he eats it, it's an early spring.
Pigsaw Penny the tree squirrel is from Brevard, North Carolina where the day is "White Squirrel Day." She predicted a longer winter.
Mojave Max is a desert tortoise from Las Vegas.
So, there's more to Groundhog Day than just groundhog predictors. Other states and towns want their fair share of attention and have renamed the day accordingly.
None of them has track records implying accuracy. But the owner of Big Al says that while groundhogs have spotty records, alligators always tell the truth. They've been around for millions of years, so they know when to eat. He says there is no need to check with an "overgrow hedgehog."
Maybe he's right.