Wiarton Willie predicts early spring, but Fred, Sam and Lucy the Lobster disagree on Groundhog Day
Wiarton Willie, the famous groundhog from Wiarton, Ont., has predicted an early spring after he did not see his shadow on Sunday morning on Groundhog Day. The prediction was made to chants of “wake up, Willie” at 8:09 a.m. in Bluewater Park, located 220 kilometres northwest of Toronto. However, Willie’s prediction contradicts those made by other weather-prognosticating animals across Canada.
Shubenacadie Sam, who resides at the Shubenacadie Wildlife Park in Nova Scotia, saw his shadow and predicted six more weeks of winter. Lucy the Lobster in Barrington, N.S., also saw her shadow and predicted six more weeks of winter. Fred la marmotte in Quebec made a similar prediction, as did Punxsutawney Phil in Pennsylvania. Despite these differing forecasts, Wiarton Willie stood by his prediction of an early spring.
Wiarton, Ont., a town of about 1,900 people located on the Bruce Peninsula, hosts an annual Groundhog Day festival that features a variety of events such as a pancake breakfast, fireworks, skating with the Owen Sound Attack hockey team, a curling bonspiel, a chili cook-off, and more. This year’s festival went ahead despite a recent snowstorm in the region.
Town of South Bruce Peninsula Mayor Jay Kirkland expressed optimism about Willie’s prediction, stating that the roads were clear and ready for visitors to attend the main event. Groundhog Day has a long history in the U.S., dating back to 1886 when Punxsutawney Phil made his first prediction. Wiarton’s Groundhog Day tradition began in 1956 and has since become a beloved annual event in the town.
There have been controversies surrounding Wiarton Willie in the past, including the deaths of previous groundhogs and allegations of cover-ups by caretakers. Despite these challenges, the tradition has endured, with Willie continuing to make weather predictions each year. Several other Canadian cities also have their own weather-predicting animals, including Shubenacadie Sam, Lucy the Lobster, and Fred la Marmotte.
While some have proposed using raccoons for weather predictions as a modern alternative to groundhogs, the idea has not gained traction. As Wiarton Willie’s prediction of an early spring brings hope to Canadians, the tradition of Groundhog Day continues to be a fun and lighthearted way to mark the changing seasons.