Punxsutawney Phil and Other Famous Groundhogs Around the Country
Fun fact: There are 82 actually weather-predicting critters on record.
Desperate times call for desperate measures! That's why when February rolls around and humans are feeling those mid-winter blues, looking to a woodchuck to predict the weather seems somewhat reasonable. Groundhog Day falls on February 2 every year and millions of Americans wait with bated breath to see if a groundhog sees his shadow or not. Shadow? Six more weeks of winter. No shadow? Early spring.
And while it seems a little more sensible to rely on The Old Farmer's Almanac for winter weather predictions, there's just something about the February holiday tradition that keeps everyone coming back year after year to check on the one little animal in western Pennsylvania named Punxsutawney Phil. But did you know that he's only one of several famous groundhogs around the country? It's true!
If you think about it, it kind of makes sense. While Phil is the original and might be a good indicator of the mid-Atlantic region (or not, since he's only been accurate 39% of the time), it would stand to reason that other groundhogs might be better predictors for their area. Fun fact about Groundhog Day: There's an estimated 82 weather-predicting critters in the United States and Canada, according to Groundhog-Day.com. But if you want to know six famous groundhogs in America to watch this year, here they are in no particular order... and with no guarantees on their accuracy. 😂
Stay occupied until spring:
Punxsutawney Phil
The one, the only, the original! Punxsutawney Phil has been around since 1887. (Well okay, the name and the concept is that old; the groundhog has changed over the years!) Thousands travel to Gobbler's Knob in western Pennsylvania to watch the ceremony where the little guy―official name: Punxsutawney Phil, Seer of Seers, Sage of Sages, Prognosticator of Prognosticators and Weather Prophet Extraordinary―either sees his shadow or does not. If you make the trek, there are lots of other activities to enjoy, too!
Staten Island Chuck
The fate of New York City's weather is in the furry hands of Staten Island Zoo resident Charles G. Hogg. Known more commonly as Staten Island Chuck, he (or she, because sometimes it's a female named Charlotte) has been around since 1981 and boasts an impressive 80% accuracy rate. That's the most accurate out of all the famous woodchucks on this list, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Jimmy the Groundhog
While you might think "The Groundhog Capital of the World" would be in Pennsylvania, think again! Sun Prairie, Wisconsin declared themselves to be the rightful place over 75 years ago with their own Jimmy the Groundhog. They throw Frozen Fest each year, a several-day celebration including ice carving, a craft fair, and of course, Jimmy's prognostication every February 2.
General Beauregard Lee
If you head down to Dauset Trails Nature Center in Jackson, Georgia, you can get a glimpse of General Beauregard Lee. Also known as Beau for short, he has the distinct pleasure of being Georgia's Official Weather Prognosticator and emerges from a tiny antebellum-style mansion known as Weathering Heights. He, too, has a pretty high accuracy rating since the 1980s when he made is first appearance.
Buckeye Chuck
Meet Murray, a rescue groundhog and the current Buckeye Chuck, who predicts Ohio weather from the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. The Buckeye Chucks before him resided in Marion, Ohio, and have been the official State Groundhogs since the Ohio General Assembly declared such in 1979. He doesn't have the greatest track record of predicting the weather, but he does have other official duties as an animal ambassador of the museum.
Pierre C. Shadeaux
Let's give this little guy an honorable mention! If you're looking for something a little different, watch for news from Zoo of Acadiana in Louisiana. Their weather prognosticator is Pierre C. Shadeaux, who is a nutria (a semiaquatic rodent), not a groundhog. Nevertheless, he is called the Cajun Groundhog 'round those parts. If he sees his shadow (shadeaux?), that means a short spring and a long summer. If he doesn't, there will be six weeks of more mild temperatures.
AnnMarie Mattila is the Senior Editor for The Pioneer Woman, covering a wide range of topics from food and cooking to home, beauty, style, and more.
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