Discover Groundhog Day Secrets Wiarton Willie Knows and Won’t Tell Punxsutawney Phil

Along the South Bruce trail, on the Blue waters of the Georgian Bay, Canada, there is an annual tradition. A festival which wakes up a groundhog to seek its own shadow, and depending on what he sees, we will know if winter is going to be long or short. This year marks the 68th annual festival.

Only in Canada, you say? One would think that it has something to do with the Canadian psyche, when the winter was too long, the hypothermia kicked in, and someone said, “Let’s have a Groundhog day! Well no, that is not strictly true, although legend does have it that there may have been some liquid courage involved.

History

In fact, the tradition started in Medieval Europe, as a Christian festival called Candlemas (Candles Day), and is also linked to the Pennsylvania German tradition of Grund’sau dåk, Grundsaudaag, Grundsow Dawg, Murmeltiertag; and Nova Scotia: Daks Day. This festival celebrated the coming of brighter days, when farmers would be able to return to their fields. In Pennsylvania, there is Punxstawney Phil, the American critter who sometimes tries to upstage Wiarton Willie.

Wiarton held its inaugural festival back in 1956, and things have been hopping ever since. At the festival, in addition to Willie, you are treated to his ‘Shadow Cabinet’ (local dignitaries) and his mascot, a big, white furry, groundhog, who greets adults and children along street. The crowd loves to hug a good news groundhog.

Prognostication

The prediction for spring is based on Willie seeing his shadow. If he sees his shadow when he emerges from his burrow, there will be six more weeks of winter. If there is no shadow, we can look forward to an early spring.

Wiarton Willie is a ground hog, (Marmota m. monax), a member of the rodent family. In addition, Wiarton Willie was traditionally a white albino groundhog.

Looking out for love

According to Penn State professor, Stam Zervanos, who has been researching hibernation patterns of groundhogs for over 20 years, he found that groundhogs aren’t looking for their shadows, but are casing the joint for future mates. It’s their version of tinder, and the long winter nights in the burrow have been cold and lonely. Good Luck with that, Willie!

They usually to live a solitary existence except for in the spring time.

Where’s Willie?

It’s hard to have a celebration with a dead Willie, but this was the situation the town of Wiarton found itself in in 1999. Imagine the panic a couple days before the town’s festival when the ‘Shadow Cabinet’ found the original Willie was dead.

Unfortunately, Willie’s understudy was in no better shape as he, too, had also snuffed it. And because Willie was an albino, it was difficult to find a last minute replacement. With a dead Willie on their hands, the town found a novel solution.

Groundhogs live longer in captivity than in the wild, and can live up to 14 years. They are vegetarians and are known as true hibernators, they are able to slow down their metabolism as well as lower their body temperature for the period of their hibernation.

A previously taxidermied groundhog was presented in a casket, attired in his best funeral suit. It was quite the surprise, and the mascot had to work the crowd extra hard that day.

Another One Bites the Dust

It was in 2003, during check on Willie and his two Wee Willie understudies, who shared the same enclosure, they found one Willie but couldn’t find the other two. They were later found deceased in the nesting area at the back of the burrow.

Groundhog burrows are complex, with various chambers for different purposes, just like rooms for humans. The burrow can be over 50ft (15.24 meters) long.

The locals smelled a rat. *And the lone survivor was looked on with suspicion. Around that time, the Canadian Broadcasting corporation, interviewed a source close to the Willie Family who provided a plausible explanation. He believed that the likely cause of their demise was their new enclosure, the design may have not allowed for proper drainage of the accumulated winter snow. It was his opinion that they had drowned.

*None of the accusations have been proven in a court of law. And no charges were laid in the incident.

Diversity

Whether it was a nod to diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace, or the troublesome practicality of finding genetically rare replacement Albino groundhogs, the town welcomed its first brown Willie in 2021.

Whatever his colour, Willie will be judged by the content of his character and loved for his predictions, especially if it is for an earlier Spring.

Welcome Spring

Things have been going well for Willie. There is a grand statue of Willie in Wiarton, which is set against the backdrop of the blue waters of the Georgian Bay. In addition, a memorial plaque acknowledges the contributions of Willies past and present, to the town’s popularity and tourism. Wiarton is an idyllic place to visit both in the winter and summer.

Here’s to Willie! The local hero. Prediction morning Feb 2nd each year.