Every February 2nd, all eyes turn to Punxsutawney Phil in Pennsylvania. Will he see his shadow? Will winter drag on, or is spring just around the corner? This tradition, with roots in the ancient European festival of Candlemas, has become a beloved, if quirky, part of North American culture. While Phil might be the most famous, he’s certainly not the only rodent meteorologist on the block!
Many other towns and regions boast their own furry forecasters, each with a unique story and local following. With Phil’s accuracy debated (some sources say it’s just under 40%), perhaps it’s time to meet some of his colleagues. Get ready to discover ten other weather-predicting groundhogs who also step into the spotlight each Groundhog Day!
10. Buckeye Chuck
Hailing from Marion, Ohio, Buckeye Chuck became the state’s official weather-predicting groundhog in the late 1970s. His career began when a local disc jockey spotted a groundhog and listeners helped name him through a contest. Chuck now lives in Green Camp, Ohio, when he’s not on meteorological duty. His predictions are shared by the same radio station that helped him get his name, often accompanied by sandwiches and hot chocolate for the crowd. As of 2020, Buckeye Chuck was reported to have a respectable 67% accuracy rate.
9. Chattanooga Chuck
Chattanooga Chuck was welcomed by the Tennessee Aquarium in 2009, adopted from a licensed wildlife breeder. He made his first weather forecast the following February and quickly became a star in educational programs, teaching millions about groundhogs. Chattanooga Chuck lived a long life for a groundhog in captivity, passing away in 2019 at the age of 10, just before his tenth forecasting anniversary. This is notably longer than the typical six-year lifespan of wild groundhogs. It’s currently unknown if a successor has been named.
8. Concord Charlie
Concord Charlie has been making his winter predictions in West Virginia since 1978. The tradition was started by a faculty member at Concord University. Nowadays, this tech-savvy groundhog delivers his forecast via cellphone or tweet directly to the university’s president, who then announces it. After his duties, Concord Charlie tends to shy away from the limelight, allowing the university to honor individuals who have positively impacted life and culture in West Virginia, such as coaches, leaders, and writers.
7. General Beauregard Lee
General Beauregard Lee, a distinguished groundhog from Georgia, has been forecasting winter weather for over four decades. Unlike many of his hibernating peers, he’s ready for action on February 2nd. Formerly of the Yellow River Game Ranch, he now resides at Dauset Trails Nature Center in Jackson, Georgia. What gets him out of hibernation? Delicious hash browns from a Georgia-based restaurant chain! As of 2020, General Lee boasted an impressive 94% accuracy rate. He’s even been known to consult with his distant cousin, Chopper, the Atlanta Braves AAA mascot, for at least one prediction.
6. Jimmy the Groundhog
The tradition of Jimmy the Groundhog forecasting in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, kicked off in 1948 during the state’s centennial celebrations. Sun Prairie was chosen because, as the saying goes, “the groundhog sees his shadow when the sun comes up on the prairie.” Jimmy has quite the local legacy, influencing everything from birth certificates to drinks, and even inspiring a stuffed-toy groundhog wedding! He famously made headlines for nipping the mayor’s ear. Despite this minor incident, Jimmy’s accuracy in predicting spring’s arrival is said to be “extremely high.” The town recently retired a wooden statue of Jimmy, but his forecasting legacy continues.
5. Mount Joy Minnie
Mount Joy Minnie is a unique figure in the world of weather prognostication. Firstly, she’s one of the few female groundhogs in the forecasting business. Secondly, she’s a puppet! Her home in southcentral Pennsylvania is a charming tree stump made from chicken wire and papier-mache, a far cry from the usual burrows. Minnie began her forecasting career in 2008 and claims an 80% accuracy rate. She even made a dramatic recovery after a playful, symbolic incident where a mock mob, upset by a long winter prediction, “drowned and lynched” her puppet form.
4. Octoraro Orphie
Octoraro Orphie hails from Quarryville, Pennsylvania, near Octoraro Creek, where his handlers have celebrated Groundhog Day for over a century. Since 1908, Orphie has only missed two Groundhog Days – one due to World War II and another because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Attendees of the annual event patiently watch groundhog holes for hours before gathering at a nearby lodge to hear Orphie’s prediction. In 2020, a year when Groundhog Day coincided with the Super Bowl, Orphie reportedly took on extra duties, predicting both the weather in Miami for the game and the winning team.
3. Shubenacadie Sam
Shubenacadie Sam, pronounced “Shoo-ben-ack-a-dee,” resides in a park in Nova Scotia, Canada, from which he gets his name. This Canadian prognosticator enjoys a vegetarian diet typical of groundhogs but also incorporates yoga and meditation into his routine. His location in Canada’s easternmost part gives him the honor of being the first groundhog in North America to make a weather prediction each February 2nd. His success rate is reported to be around 45%.
2. Unadilla Bill
Unadilla Bill is a bit different – he’s taxidermied! He received his name in 1988 when Nebraska’s then-lieutenant governor, also named Bill, declared Unadilla the Groundhog Capital of the state. This marked the start of Bill’s forecasting career. Despite being stuffed, Bill apparently led an active ceremonial life, often leading Unadilla’s annual Groundhog Day parade from the hood of a car. He recently retired, passing the torch to his successor, Unadilla Billie, who is set to make her debut prediction.
1. Wiarton Willie
Wiarton Willie, from Wiarton in southwestern Ontario, Canada, is a seasoned forecaster, with a lineage of Willies making predictions for over 65 years. The town’s celebration hasn’t been without its share of drama. Reports surfaced that the Willie predestined for the 2021 ceremony died from a tooth abscess shortly before, a fact local leaders kept quiet for months. Adding to the controversy, about 20 years prior, another Wiarton Willie unfortunately froze to death before his big day. Town officials held a funeral, using a stuffed version of Willie instead of the recently deceased one. Here’s hoping for smooth forecasting in Wiarton for years to come!
So, while Punxsutawney Phil may grab most of the headlines, it’s clear he has plenty of company in the fascinating world of rodent meteorology. Each of these groundhogs brings a unique local flavor to a tradition that continues to capture our imagination, year after year.
Which of these alternative groundhogs is your favorite, or do you know of another local weather-predicting animal? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
