Saskatchewan’s weather-predicting woodchuck had some good news for the province on Groundhog Day.
Whelan Woodie, who makes his home about 120 kilometres north of Prince Albert near the community of Whelan Bay, did not see his shadow Friday morning. That means the Land of Living Skies should be in for an early spring.
People should perhaps be extra thankful to learn of Woodie’s prediction. While mere groundhogs in other parts of North America can only predict up to six weeks of added winter, Woodie’s powers of prognostication can can extend to a full 10 weeks.
Hopefully, Woodie is being rewarded with some of his favourite fruit after his hard morning’s work.
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Ontarians could see six more weeks of winter after one of the country’s best-known groundhogs saw his shadow.
Officials declared a longer winter after Wiarton Willie emerged from his den just after 8 a.m. ET.
This year was the first for the young rodent, which replaced the previous Willie, who died last September.
Meanwhile, Nova Scotia’s famed Shubenacadie Sam had another prediction.
Sam waddled out of his fenced pen at about 8 a.m. local time and wandered around, a sign he was predicting an early end to winter.
Fans looked on and let out loud cheers as Sam, who lives at the Shubenacadie Wildlife Park, scampered around the snowy grounds on what was the 30th anniversary of his annual weather prediction.
In the U.S., Punxsutawney Phil has predicted weather for the community of Gobbler’s Knob, Pa. for the last 132 years. He also saw his shadow, meaning another vote for a longer winter.
—With files from The Canadian Press