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Date Posted: 06:32:45 02/01/11 Tue
Author: AF
Subject: No snow day for groundhogs
In reply to: Logical 's message, "Re: Gosh, you'd think a blizzard is coming" on 05:23:38 02/01/11 Tue

By Lisa Black, Chicago Tribune reporter

8:41 p.m. CST, January 31, 2011

If the groundhog had his way, he'd hunker down in his den Wednesday and wait out the storm.

That's what the animal experts say, but Feb. 2 happens to be Groundhog Day. Blizzard conditions aside, the critter is expected to keep up appearances.

Festivities planned at 10:30 a.m. at Brookfield Zoo and at 7 a.m. in northwest suburban Woodstock will go on as scheduled, officials said.

"We never make him come out," said Glenn Granat, curator of Brookfield Children's Zoo. Granat does his best to coax the resident groundhog, Tumbleweed, out of his straw-filled den with a tasty carrot and sweet potato cake.

"Even if he doesn't come out, he will still get his cake," he said.

According to legend, the groundhog emerges from its burrow once a year to look for its shadow. If the animal sees its shadow, spectators can expect another six weeks of wintry weather. If the day is cloudy and no shadow appears, spring will come early.

Punxsutawney Phil in Pennsylvania is perhaps America's most famous groundhog.

Meanwhile, in Woodstock, officials bring in a guest groundhog to celebrate the 1992 filming of the movie "Groundhog Day'' in their town.

Woodstock Willie waits inside a "stump" as the mayor approaches and knocks on its door. A handler helps pull Willie out of the stump, if necessary, said Mayor Brian Sager.

Sager then leans in close to hear Willie's "Woodstock prognostication."

Of course, the groundhog hasn't always complied. There was a year when Willie scurried off across the bandstand, presumably to find warmer shelter, he said.

"He certainly has a mind of his own and is not afraid to let us know whether he is happy to stay in the stump," Sager said.

Copyright © 2011, Chicago Tribune

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