Wiarton Willie has predicted an early spring after he didn’t see his shadow on Sunday morning on Groundhog Day.
WIllie made the prediction to chants of “wake up, Willie” at 8:09 a.m. on Sunday morning in Bluewater Park in Wiarton, Ont., positioned 220 kilometres northwest of Toronto.
However his prediction doesn’t match these of different weather-prognosticating animals:
Shubenacadie Sam who lives on the Shubenacadie Wildlife Park in Nova Scotia noticed his shadow, predicting six extra weeks of winter.
Lucy the Lobster in Barrington, N.S., noticed her shadow and predicted six extra weeks of winter.
Fred la marmotte in Quebec predicted six extra weeks of winter.
Punxsutawney Phil in Pennsylvania additionally predicted six extra weeks of winter.
Wiarton Willie is seen inside his enclosure in Wiarton, Ont., on August 17, 2024. The enclosure close to the library was created with the assistance of the Toronto Zoo. (Kate Bueckert/CBC)
Wiarton, Ont., is a city of about 1,900 individuals positioned on the Bruce Peninsula. Yearly, it holds an annual pageant that kicks off with a pancake breakfast and fireworks at 7 a.m. It additionally celebrates with a weekend-long occasion that included skating with the Owen Sound Assault hockey crew, a curling bonspiel, a chili cook-off, skating, a darts match and extra.
This 12 months’s pageant went on regardless of the area seeing a considerable amount of snow over the previous week.
Revellers show indicators whereas ready for Shubenacadie Sam to emerge from her burrow at a Groundhog Day occasion on the Shubenacadie Wildlife Park in Nova Scotia on Sunday. Sam noticed her shadow and predicts six extra weeks of winter. (Darren Calabrese/The Canadian Press)
City of South Bruce Peninsula Mayor Jay Kirkland mentioned the roads are clear after the “old fashioned snow event” the skilled this week they usually have been prepared for individuals to drive into city for the primary occasion Sunday morning.
“I put the oath of office on my neck and that allows me to be able to talk to the groundhog and hopefully we hear that it’s an early spring this year,” Kirkland advised CBC Kitchener-Waterloo’s The Morning Version with host Craig Norris on Friday.
“We’ll keep our fingers crossed, but we still have to let Willie decide,” Kirkland added, saying he didn’t wish to guess whether or not or not Willie would see his shadow. “I’m not the weather guy. I just helped run the town.”
Historical past of Groundhog Day
Groundhog Day was first marked within the U.S. with a prediction by Punxsutawney Phil in 1886, the Punxsutawney Groundhog Membership’s web site stories. The primary official trek to Gobbler’s Knob was made on Feb. 2, 1887.
Punxsutawney Phil is maybe the world’s best-known groundhog — he’s been predicting the climate the longest and he’s featured within the film Groundhog Day starring Invoice Murray.
Groundhog Membership handler A.J. Dereume holds Punxsutawney Phil, the climate prognosticating groundhog, in the course of the 139th celebration of Groundhog Day on Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pa., on Sunday. Phil’s handlers mentioned that the groundhog has forecast six extra weeks of winter. (Barry Reeger/The Related Press)
The Groundhog Day custom in Wiarton dates again to 1956. The City of South Bruce Peninsula says it was began by a “spirited individual” named Mac McKenzie that had “a desire to shake off the winter blues and bring some warmth to the community.”
“In a moment of whimsy and spontaneity, when asked about the whereabouts of the groundhog, Mac playfully tossed a fur hat into the snow,” the city’s web site says.
“Seizing the opportunity for a memorable photo, the reporter immortalized the hat as a stand-in for the elusive groundhog.”
There was controversy with Willie prior to now, although. In 1999, the groundhog was discovered lifeless simply days earlier than he was alleged to hit the stage for his prediction. A funeral was held however a special physique was used as a result of the groundhog had died weeks earlier and the physique wasn’t match to be on show.
In 2003, there have been requires Willie’s caretaker to be fired after it was discovered she had coated up the deaths of two fill-in groundhogs that will have inherited the title of Willie had the present one died. The 2 understudies had been residing in the identical den as Willie. Groundhogs are instinctively territorial, resulting in suspicions that Willie had killed his roommates.
In 2017, one other Willie died and his understudy “Wee Willie” assumed the function.
Then, in 2020, one other Willie died however his loss of life wasn’t introduced till November 2021. The February 2021 prediction was made by the then-mayor Janice Jackson tossing a hat into the snow.
In 2022, a brown groundhog was named as the subsequent Wiarton Willie, however he was later changed in 2023 by the present white groundhog.
A number of Canadian predictions
Whereas Punxsutawney Phil is the OG (unique groundhog), Canada has seen a number of climate prognosticating animals be part of the gang over time.
Shubenacadie Sam, residing in Shubenacadie Wildlife Park in Nova Scotia.
Lucy the Lobster, residing in Barrington, N.S.
Fred la Marmotte in Val-d’Espoir, Que.
Wiarton Willie in Wiarton, Ont.
There was additionally Winnipeg Wyn, however she died in 2020.
Different “groundhogs” that additionally supply predictions embody:
Manitoba Merv, which is a puppet/golf membership cowl.
Alberta’s Balzac Billy, which is an individual in a groundhog mascot costume.
B.C.’s Okanagan Okie, which is a stuffed animal.
Okanagan Okie stands atop ‘Marmot City,’ a rocky knoll overlooking the North Okanagan Valley close to Vernon, B.C., on the Allan Brooks Nature Centre. (Cheryl Hood)
In 2024, Toronto firm Gates Wildlife Management requested whether or not raccoons may be higher suited to climate prognosticating.
“While Mr. Groundhog hibernates, the raccoon is busy honing its forecasting skills and navigating the concrete jungle,” the corporate mentioned in a YouTube video.
“With its keen intellect and adaptability, the raccoon proposes a modern approach to weather prediction, using discarded items and urban observations instead of shadows. It’s time for a weather revolution led by the raccoon.”
Whereas the concept was proposed, it doesn’t seem the corporate discovered a raccoon to supply a prediction.
