.jpg)
As all of you in the USA and Canada will know, tomorrow 2nd February is Groundhog Day. It's hard to believe that not everybody has heard of it, right? Wrong. My Mum didn't have a clue until a few weeks ago, when she met Shubenacadie Sam a very famous Groundhog who resides at the Shubenacadie Provincial Wildlife Park in Nova Scotia.
Everyone Mum has mentioned Sam to has said, "but haven't you seen the film?!" Nope. In fact Mum thought a Groundhog was some sort of cartoon character, a bit like Roadrunner or something. In fact the Groundhog is also known as the Woodchuck or Land Beaver. It is a rodent belonging to the group known as Marmots. So that's cleared that up......
And as for Groundhog Day, according to legend if it is cloudy when the Groundhog leaves his burrow at sunrise on 2nd February then Spring will come early. If it is sunny, he will see his shadow and retreat to his burrow and winter will last a further 6 weeks. (I would have thought Winter is likely to last until mid March anyway, but lets not spoil a good story....)
Sam is one of the more famous Groundhogs who predict Spring. Being the most easterly located in Nova Scotia, he is the first Groundhog to predict Spring in the USA & Canada. He is currently residing indoors, but at 8.00am AST (Midday GMT) on 2nd February he will be put outside to make his prediction. Quite a crowd gather accompanied by a bag piper and town crier.
We met Sam quite by accident. Just before Christmas, Mum came across Nova Scotia Webcams as they were showing Santa and his reindeer at their training ground. Mum became a bit obsessed with watching it, but not nearly as bad as she is with Sam. The camera is on 24 hours a day with 2 second updates. Sam is fed and interacts with his keeper at 7.30 AST (11.30GMT) 11.45 (3.45) and 3.00pm (7.00pm) We however watch him ALL the time. Yeah I know; we should get out more...
So if you want the heads up on Spring tune into Sam tomorrow at 12 noon GMT.(8.00am AST) Here's hoping it's cloudy.....
.JPG)
My best Groundhog impression....
