Spring coming soon

The world's most famous groundhog emerged from his burrow early yesterday to predict an early spring for the first time in eight years.

On the 121st annual Groundhog Day, Punxsutawney Phil did not see his shadow, signaling - according to the folklore of German settlers in central Pennsylvania - that spring is just around the corner. The groundhog seeing his shadow would have signaled six more weeks of winter.

"The prognosticator of prognosticators has spoken! Phil says we'll have an early spring," the Pennsylvania tourism office said in a statement.

But spring isn't coming too soon, according to more conventional weather forecasters. Pennsylvania temperatures are expected to remain well below freezing during the coming week.

Phil's website, www.groundhog.org, says he weighs 9kg is 55 cm long.

It does not reveal his age, however, saying there has only been one Phil, who gets his longevity from a magic elixir he drinks every summer to get seven more years of life. Groundhogs usually live for six to eight years.

Since 1887, the groundhog has not seen his shadow only 14 times. Phil has been 100 per cent accurate in his predictions, according to the website.

In Canada, albino groundhog Wiarton Willie, based in South Bruce Peninsula, Ontario, also predicted an early end to winter.

"He didn't see his shadow so we have an early spring," said Donna Elliott, economic development officer for the town, which is some three hour's drive northwest of Toronto.

It's the first forecast from this particular Wiarton Willie, who is only 10 months old and who took on the job after the previous Wiarton Willie died last summer.

* According to lore, if the groundhog emerges from his burrow on February 2 and sees his shadow, he will be frightened back into his hole, presaging another six weeks of winter. A cloudy day - and no shadow - means winter will end early.

* The source of the current tradition is unclear but may be based on the European tradition of Candlemas, brought to the United States by German immigrants.

* Since 1887, the groundhog has not seen his shadow only 14 times, compared to 96 times when he saw his shadow. There were no records in nine of the early years.

* 'Woodchuck' and 'groundhog' are names for the same rodent, the Marmota monax. Related to the squirrel, they eat mainly green plants like dandelion, clover and grasses but grow to weigh roughly two to four kg in the wild but can grow much bigger in areas with fewer natural predators.

* Like many animals, groundhogs hibernate during the winter. They often emerge from their underground burrows in early February, when Groundhog Day is marked.

* Punxsutawney Phil weighs 9 kg and is 55 cm long. Although groundhogs live for six to eight years, legend has it that Phil, who is named after King Philip, has been making predictions for 121 years thanks to a magic elixir that he drinks every summer to get seven more years of life.

* The hype of marking Groundhog Day formed the basis of the 1993 movie of the same name starring comedian Bill Murray.

Sources: Cornell University, Environment Canada, Wikipedia, IMDB, www.groundhog.org