Groundhog Day: Spring predictions from furry forecasters across the country
CTV
Furry forecasters across three provinces are in agreement, predicting an early spring on Groundhog Day.
Canada's famous prognosticating rodents appeared to reach a consensus on Groundhog Day, as furry forecasters spanning three provinces predicted an early spring.
Ontario's Wiarton Willie, Nova Scotia's Shubenacadie Sam and Quebec's Fred la Marmotte all reportedly did not see their shadows on Friday morning. According to centuries-old folklore, that's good news for Canadians tired of wintry weather.
The tradition holds that if a groundhog doesn't see its shadow on Groundhog Day, springlike weather will soon arrive. But if a shadow appears, winter's icy grip won't let go for quite some time.
The consensus on spring's early arrival extended to western Pennsylvania's Punxsutawney Phil, whose annual declaration exploded in popularity after the 1993 movie “Groundhog Day”.
As usual, Shubenacadie Sam was the first groundhog in North America to make a prediction. But Nova Scotia's famed meteorological marmot did not appear to be in any rush.
At 8 a.m. local time, the door to Sam's enclosure was opened by Natural Resources Minister Tory Rushton, but Sam - or Samantha - did not come out.
“Come on, woodchuck!” shouted one youngster who was among a group of bundled-up onlookers at the Shubenacadie Wildlife Park north of Halifax.
