Wiarton Willie and many other Canadian animal weather forecasters have anticipated an early spring as they did not spot their shadows on Groundhog Day. This tradition involves animals emerging from hibernation to predict whether spring will arrive early or if six more weeks of winter are on the horizon. On February 2, groundhogs and even a crustacean peek out to check for their shadows.
Among the Canadian animal prognosticators making early-morning appearances were Shubenacadie Sam from Nova Scotia, Lucy the Lobster from Barrington, N.S., Fred la marmotte from Quebec, Van Isle Violet from Nanaimo, B.C., and Punxsutawney Phil from Pennsylvania. If a groundhog (or crustacean) emerges on a sunny day and sees its shadow, it signifies six more weeks of winter. On the other hand, if it’s cloudy with no shadow, an early spring is expected.
In Wiarton, a small town with around 1,900 residents, the Groundhog Day event takes place at Bluewater Park, where Wiarton Willie, the cherished woodchuck, makes the prediction at 8:07 a.m. ET. Over the past 70 years, multiple Wiarton Willies have made the town a popular tourist destination.
The annual festival in Wiarton includes various activities like breakfast, fireworks, curling, chili cook-offs, skating, dances, and family fun at Bluewater Park. Attendees gather to celebrate this traditional event, with the prediction split about evenly between those hoping for an early spring and those wishing for more winter.
Groundhog Day originated in the U.S. in 1886, with Punxsutawney Phil making the first prediction. Wiarton’s tradition started in 1956 as a playful gesture by Mac McKenzie, an individual aiming to bring warmth and joy to the community during winter. The event gained attention when a Toronto Star reporter covered it, immortalizing the groundhog’s absence with a fur hat in the snow.
The accuracy rates of these animal forecasters vary widely. Wiarton Willie has a success rate of 29%, while in the U.S., groundhogs’ accuracy rates range from 25% to 85%. Other regions have their own unique ways of predicting weather, such as using puppets, mascots, or stuffed animals on Groundhog Day.
Groundhog Day holds a special place in North American folklore, with various animal weather predictors captivating audiences each year.
