It’s not Groundhog Day yet but in Buffalo, New York, they checked in early with their local groundhog “Buffalo Bert” at the 10th annual Buffalo Groundhog Day celebration on Saturday and got some bad news: six more weeks of winter.
Buffalo Bert, the local groundhog, saw his shadow during the ceremony.
DEATH TOLL IN BUFFALO BLIZZARD RISES TO 37 AS NATIONAL GUARD CONDUCTS WELFARE CHECKS
Buffalo Groundhog Day President Adam Hernandez began the tradition in 2013 after traveling to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania to see the most famous groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil. The celebration, which was put on hold during the pandemic, helps raise money to help local and wild animals at Hawk Creek Wildlife Center.
In 2021, Hernandez claimed that his groundhog, Buffalo Bert, was a much better weather forecaster than the legendary Punxsutawney Phil, suggesting that Phil “couldn’t be more wrong.”
Buffalo Mack, a human-size mascot in a groundhog suit, was also there for the celebration.
In addition to Punxsutawney Phil and Buffalo Bert, there are numerous prognosticating groundhogs around the country.
Lady Edwina of Essex prognosticates at Essex County Turtle Back Zoo in New Jersey.
Staten Island Chuck is the official groundhog meteorologist of New York City, and famously bit Mayor Michael Bloomberg in 2009 and was secretly replaced with his granddaughter groundhog Charlotte, whom Mayor Bill de Blasio dropped, causing her death days later from “acute internal injuries” consistent with a fall.
West Virginia State Wildlife Center’s “French Creek Freddie” groundhog is set to make his 46th Groundhog Day prediction.
Buckeye Chuck is Ohio’s official State Groundhog but has only been correct twice between 2006 to 2015. He may miss this year’s celebration because the PETA Animal rights group has been pressuring radio station WMRN-AM to stop using live animals for its annual Groundhog Day celebration.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Woodstock Willie is located in Woodstock, Illinois which was the actual shooting location for the movie Groundhog Day.
In Washington, D.C., the Dupont Circle Groundhog Day event annually features its groundhog, Potomac Phil, the taxidermied rodent brother of Pennsylvania’s Punxsutawney Phil.
