Groundhog Day 2024: Watch Punxsutawney Phil predict an early spring
Weather expert and small rodent Punxsutawney Phil did not see his shadow this morning, predicting an early spring is on its way.
The famous groundhog made his forecast in front of thousands of spectators Friday morning at Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, part of the annual Groundhog Day tradition celebrated in the U.S. and Canada.
Friday marks the first time in three years Punxsutawney Phil did not see his shadow and predicted an early spring.
Groundhog Day 2024 full video: Watch Punxsutawney Phil as he looks for his shadow
What is Groundhog Day?
Groundhog Day is a tradition that has taken place annually in the town of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania since Feb. 2, 1987.
The "Inner Circle" of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club plans the ceremony and events each year, as well as cares for and feeds Punxsutawney Phil.
When is Groundhog Day 2024? What to know about the decades-old winter prediction tradition
What is a groundhog?
The groundhog (Marmota monax), also known as the woodchuck, is a rodent belonging to the group of large ground squirrels known as marmots, according to National Geographic. They're common to the eastern parts of America and much of Canada.
What happens if the groundhog sees his shadow?
If Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow, he predicts six more weeks of winter. If he doesn't, he predicts an early spring.
But, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Phil has only gotten it right about 40% of the time in the last 10 years.
In Phil's defense, the NOAA said predicting the arrival of spring for the entire United States is difficult indeed.
Why does PETA want Punxsutawney Phil sent to a sanctuary?
In a letter sent in January to Tom Dunkel, the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club’s president, PETA expressed concerns that the groundhog is being cruelly exploited for publicity.
If the Inner Circle agreed to send the animal to a sanctuary, PETA offered to send the organization "a giant coin" that "could easily replace him as the Pennsylvania town’s gimmick to draw in tourists."
"He is not a meteorologist and deserves better than to be exploited every year for tourism money," PETA said in a statement.
It's not the first year PETA has made requests for Phil to be freed — in years past offering to send a human volunteer to live in his enclosure and make the annual winter prediction, or replace the groundhog with a persimmon tree and an animatronic groundhog.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Groundhog Day 2024: Did Punxsutawney Phil see his shadow?
