Groundhog Day 2025: Wiarton Willie Predicts Early Spring, but Other Groundhogs Disagree

Wiarton Willie has predicted an early spring after failing to see his shadow on Groundhog Day 2025. The announcement was made at 8:09 a.m. in Bluewater Park, Wiarton, Ontario, where a crowd gathered to hear the forecast.

However, other well-known weather-prognosticating animals had different predictions:

Shubenacadie Sam (Nova Scotia) saw his shadow, predicting six more weeks of winter.
Lucy the Lobster (Barrington, N.S.) also saw her shadow, meaning winter will continue.
Fred la Marmotte (Quebec) forecasted six more weeks of cold weather.
Van Isle Violet (British Columbia) agreed with the extended winter prediction.
Punxsutawney Phil (Pennsylvania) also predicted a longer winter.

Wiarton’s Annual Groundhog Day Festival

Wiarton, a town of about 1,900 residents on the Bruce Peninsula, hosts a weekend-long festival for Groundhog Day. This year’s celebrations included a pancake breakfast, fireworks, and winter activities like skating with the Owen Sound Attack hockey team, a curling bonspiel, and a chili cook-off.

The Town of South Bruce Peninsula Mayor Jay Kirkland reassured visitors that despite heavy snowfall, roads were clear and ready for attendees.

A Tradition Dating Back to 1886

The first recorded Groundhog Day prediction came from Punxsutawney Phil in 1886. The tradition of Wiarton Willie began in 1956 when local resident Mac McKenzie wanted to bring warmth and excitement to the winter season.

Wiarton Willie’s History and Controversies

Wiarton Willie’s legacy has been eventful, with several unexpected incidents:

1999: The groundhog was found dead before the event, prompting a staged funeral.
2003: Two understudy groundhogs died under mysterious circumstances.
2017 & 2020: Successive Willies passed away, leading to unexpected replacements.
2021: A mayor tossed a hat into the snow as a stand-in for the missing groundhog.
2022: A brown groundhog took over but was replaced in 2023 by the current white-furred Wiarton Willie.

Canada’s Weather-Predicting Animals

Canada has multiple furry (and not-so-furry) forecasters:

Shubenacadie Sam (Nova Scotia)
Lucy the Lobster (Nova Scotia)
Fred la Marmotte (Quebec)
Wiarton Willie (Ontario)
Winnipeg Wyn (Manitoba) (deceased in 2020)

Other less conventional predictors include:

Bonhomme Couèche (New Brunswick) – a mascot in a groundhog costume.
Manitoba Merv – a puppet/golf club cover.
Balzac Billy (Alberta) – a mascot costume.
Okanagan Okie (British Columbia) – a stuffed animal.

Should Raccoons Replace Groundhogs?

In 2024, Toronto-based Gates Wildlife Control questioned whether raccoons would be better suited for forecasting. The company noted that while groundhogs hibernate, raccoons remain active, observing their surroundings. Although the idea was introduced in a YouTube video, no raccoon was officially recruited for weather predictions.

A Divided Forecast

While Wiarton Willie’s prediction offers hope for an early spring, most other forecasters—including Punxsutawney Phil—suggest winter is far from over. As always, the real test will be whether nature agrees with these famous prognosticators.

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