Groundhog+Day

Well, it must be Groundhog Day again...seems like it was just here yesterday! Anyway, here is some information...







Today- Feb. 2, 2017- is the 131st time Phil had his chance to predict the next 6 weeks of weather. Today, he predicted MORE WINTER!!!! :) I think hes going to be correct.

Check out the official page!

__ DID YOU KNOW... __ The average groundhog is 20 inches long and normally weighs from 12 to 15 pounds. Punxsutawney Phil weighs about 20 pounds and is 22 inches long. Groundhogs are covered with coarse grayish hairs (fur) tipped with brown or sometimes dull red. They have short ears, a short tail, short legs, and are surprisingly quick. Their jaws are exceptionally strong.

A groundhog's diet consists of lots of greens, fruits, and vegetables and very little water. Most of their liquids come from dewy leaves.

A groundhog can whistle when it is alarmed.

Insects do not bother groundhogs and germs pretty much leave them alone. One reason for this is their cleanliness.

Groundhogs are one of the few animals that really hibernate. Hibernation is not just a deep sleep. It is actually a deep coma, where the body temperature drops to a few degrees above freezing, the heart barely beats, the blood scarcely flows, and breathing nearly stops.

Young Groundhogs are usually born in mid-April or May. A baby groundhog is called a kit or a cub.

The first prediction came in 1887.

If Phil sees his shadow, he runs and hides. That means 6 more weeks of winter!!!

If Phil does not see his shadow, then he stays outside to enjoy the early warm temperature.

He has predicted an early spring 16 times out of his 116 predictions.

That means he has run back to his home to hide 100 times!

His predictions have been correct 39% of the time so far. Imagine if you got a 39% on your math test :(

2 times in the 1940's there was no Groundhog Day because of World War 2.

From 1944 thru 1982 he only predicted early spring 3 times! That's 36 long winters!

If we drove from the school to Punxsutawney, it would take 3 1/2 hours and be 200 miles! So if we left first thing in the morning, we could get there by lunch time.

It is held February 2 every year.

The first one was in 1886.

Did he see his shadow this year? So what does that mean?