How does the groundhog predict spring?

How does the groundhog predict spring?

According to tradition, if a groundhog comes out of its hole on this day and sees its shadow, it gets scared and runs back into its burrow, predicting six more weeks of winter weather; no shadow means an early spring.

How does a groundhog predict weather?

On Groundhog Day, a bunch of men, wearing suits and top hats, pull a groundhog out of a hole in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. They then read a scroll the groundhog supposedly wrote, that states whether or not it saw its shadow. This determines if winter will last another six weeks, or if spring is coming soon.

What was the groundhogs prediction?

Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow this year. As the legend goes, that means six more weeks of winter weather lay ahead; no shadow indicates an early spring. According to the Groundhog Club’s records, the various incarnations of Punxsutawney Phil have predicted 104 forecasts of more winter and 20 early springs.

How many groundhogs make predictions?

Statistics. Punxsutawney Phil’s statistics are kept by the Pennsylvania’s Groundhog Club which cares for the animal. Phil has predicted 103 forecasts for winter and just 17 for an early spring.

Is it the same groundhog every year?

Each year since then has seen a steady increase in participation of the celebration from people all over the world. It’s been the same Punxsutawney Phil for all 135 years of the tradition, according to the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club. That’s over 15 times longer than the upper end of a groundhog’s typical lifespan.

What is a groundhogs lifespan?

Lifespan: In the wild, groundhogs can live up to six years with two or three being average. In captivity, groundhogs reportedly live up to 14 years. Breeding: Groundhogs tend to be solitary except in the spring when a litter of four to six young are born.

How do they keep Punxsutawney Phil alive?

Punxsutawney Phil gets his longevity from drinking the “elixir of life,” a secret recipe. Phil takes one sip every summer at the Groundhog Picnic and it magically gives him seven more years of life.