Step Aside, Punxsutawney Phil: These Animals Make Weather Predictions on Groundhog Day Too
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Every year on February 2, America's eyes turn to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, where Punxsutawney Phil predicts how much more winter weather we have in store. We all know the drill, if Phil sees his shadow, then six more weeks or winter is in store, and if not we can look forward to an early spring (2024's prediction? Early spring!). However, Phil, who has allegedly been alive since 1886 (we aren't buying it), is not the only animal with prognosticating powers. After all, Phil's methods could use some improvement as he's only been correct 40% of the time over the past 10 years, according to USA Today.
Today, dozens of clairvoyant animals (even statues, taxidermy, and stuffed animals) have popped up across the country all with the same goal in predicting the end of winter.
Sand Mountain Sam the Opossum
Sam Mountain Sam the prognosticating opossum makes his prediction from Albertville, Alabama every February 2 as he's done for over a decade. The local opossum queen taps on Sam's whiskey barrel enclosure before he emerges to look at the sky. Sam's handler interprets his prediction before the mayor reads the official prediction from a scroll.
Sam's 2024 prediction: Early spring
Pisgah Penny the Squirrel
Penelope Ella Catherine Elizabeth "Pisgah Penny" is a white tree squirrel and resident weather forecaster of Brevard, North Carolina. Penny took the place of the town's previous predictor, Pisgah Pete the squirrel after he retired.
"Pisgah Penny has established herself as a beloved and valued member of this community who openly asserts her love for Brevard," while "Punxsutawney Phil has established himself as, let's be honest, an ill tempered, unreliable predictor," Brevard Mayor Maureen Copelof said.
Penny's 2024 prediction: Six more weeks of winter (and the Chiefs to win the Super Bowl!)
Cluxatawney Henrietta the Chicken
Cluxatawney Henrietta the Ameraucana chicken hails from Muscat Farm in Katonah, New York. Her predictions are determined by whether or not she lays an egg on the morning of February 2nd. "We don't have a groundhog on the farm, so we use the next best thing – Henrietta, our weather predicting chicken," farm curator Jonathan Benjamin said.
Henrietta's 2024 prediction: Early spring
Concord Casimir the Cat
Casimir, also known as the Polish Prince of Felines, announces his yearly prediction at Ellison Creek Knob in Concord, Ohio. Casimir, an orange cat, was abandoned as a kitten at St. Casimir Polish Church in Cleveland, Ohio. The church took him is as their own and now he's a certified celebrity.
Every year on February 2, Casimir enjoys a special meal consisting of pierogis. How he eats said pierogis is how Master of Ceremonies John Niedzialek formulates his prediction. If he eats the pierogis normally, then it's winter as usual. If he makes a mess, then we're in for a long, messy spring, and if he eat a pierogi in one bite, then the coming summer will be especially warm.
Casimir's 2024 prediction: Don't be fooled by temporary warm weather
Snohomish Slew the Bullfrog
On Groundhog Day in Snohomish, Washington, all eyes are on Slew the Bullfrog, who's been making predictions since 2006. "The pinnacle celebration moment [is] when Slew whispers his forecast to his favorite scribe in Groundfrogese. [The] gathered crowd will be ribbeted by every transcribed word from Slew as he accurately predicts our winter weather fate for six more weeks," Slew's handler, Thayer Cueter said.
Slew's 2024 prediction: Six more weeks of winter
Bee Cave Bob the Armadillo
To no ones surprise, Texas does their own thing on Groundhog Day, which they call Armadillo Day. Bee Cave Bob the Armadillo, named after his home town of Bee Cave, Texas, has been in the biz since 2010. If February 2 is a sunny day in Texas and Bob casts a shadow then there will be six more weeks of winter. If it's cloudy and he doesn't cast a shadow, then spring will come early.
"We don't need no mangy groundhog in Pennsylvania predicting the weather for us," founder of a Groundhog Day succession movement, T. Booth said. To add to the fanfare, Bee Cave Bob also provides insights on the year's political climate during his yearly performance.
Bob's 2024 prediction: Early spring
Scramble the Duck
Unlike many of his counterparts, Scramble the white Pekin duck has a perfect record when it comes to predicting the end of winter. Scramble makes his prediction every year from the Ivy Glenn Memorial building in Eastford, Connecticut.
"I am an accurate alternative to the groundhog. I decided rather than flying south like most ducks for winter, I would stay up in Connecticut all year... I'm out all year in the ice, wind, rain and snow–that makes me much more connected with the weather," Scramble's website says. Though his predictions are more accurate, Scramble also uses his shadow as an indicator.
Scramble's 2024 prediction: Early spring
Wherever you are in the country there's probably a weather predicting furry friend nearby. This year, we will choose to believe whichever animal predicts an early spring!
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