Groundhogs a.k.a. woodchucks, land beavers or whistle-pigs, are large rodents known for their destructive burrowing habits. Groundhog Day is a tradition celebrated here in Canada on February 2 each year. Groundhogs emerge from their burrows and if they see a shadow due to clear weather, they will retreat to their den and winter will persist for six more weeks, and if they don’t, due to cloudiness, spring season will arrive early. This year it’s up in the air, but most of the groundhogs have predicted the extra 6 weeks. Here are a few odd ball facts about groundchucks or woodhogs:
1) The tradition began in Germany when hedgehogs or woodchucks predicted the weather.
2) According to the Groundhog Club’s, the most popular groundhog “Phil” is never wrong – fake news- his accuracy is less than 39 per cent.
3) One forecast takes place in Gobbler’s Knob. Knob is an old word for a hill; Gobblers refers to turkeys.
4) First became popular in Canada in 1956 when groundhog Wiarton Willie started his early February weather predictions.
5) Shubenacadie Sam is reportedly the first groundhog in this country to stick its head out on Groundhog Day.
6) Other groundhogs include: Van Island Violet in B.C., Gary the Groundhog in Ontario, Brandon Bob in Manitoba and Balzac Billy in Alberta.
gogreenpestcontrol.ca Ladner tsawwassen Delta B.C. Randy Bilesky
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/do-groundhogs-really-have-crystal-ball-randy-bilesky/?published=t
http://www.delta-optimist.com/opinion/blogs/blog-do-groundhogs-really-have-a-crystal-ball-1.23162955