The groundhog remains a public enemy

LINDSEY ZARKA
GRAPHIC DESIGNER

JAMIE DIEDRICH
STAFF WRITER

2/17/2025

On February 2nd, Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow and predicted that we would face six more weeks of winter. I do not think this prediction is accurate as it is both baseless and does not hold a candle to the lack of predictability when it comes to Michigan weather. 

It’s not that I think we’ll have an early Spring, either, it’s Michigan, but that also means there is no way of predicting six more weeks of Winter. Secondly, the fact that it is a groundhog is based on superstition. 

This means that not only is the weather here off kilter consistently, but if an individual doesn’t like the results, there is no scientific bearing for the animal to continue being a groundhog. Ladybugs are superstitious in Pennslyvania, so why not them? The animal is baseless, but the lack of predictability for Michigan weather is not.

If you are dead set on this superstition, however, this betrayal is also not specific to one version of the weather-predicting animal, as there are over 70 alternatives throughout the U.S. and a few more in Canada. Some of which, if you really wanted to keep tradition alive, are taxidermied, and still predicted an early spring. 

There is, in Pennsylvania, a squirrel that predicts the weather named Snack Town Steve who predicted an early spring. Would it behoove us to follow that prediction in Alma since that is our whole theme? The tradition and alternatives do not stop at mammals, either. 

To list a few, there is the endangered Mojave Max, a tortoise, in Nevada. There is ‘Bee Cave Bob’, an armadillo, from Texas. Both of these predicted an early spring, not that either of those states is usually cold, thus further disproving Punxatawny’s credibility. 

Benny, a Largemouth Bass of Ohio, predicted an early Spring. If anyone read over my Ladybug suggestion and immediately noted that they don’t exactly have shadows, we must also question the bass.

Now to no longer tip-toe around the question, of course, it is highly unlikely that we will immediately obtain an early Spring, as more often than not in Michigan, February is accompanied by buckets of the demonic white fluff we refer to as ‘snow’. 

However, does it truly take an out-of-state mammal to reassure the common population that Michigan will not suddenly turn into the Sahara? Even if it truly could, would you believe it? Why would you when several other species directly contradict the prediction of the cursed, yet fuzzy, land beaver? 

Most importantly, what is stopping you from pulling out a coin, flipping it, and basing a prediction on that? Superstition? People base decisions on coin-tosses all of the time. 

There is a Punxatawny alternative bullfrog in Washington that is a mascot for a weather-predictive coin toss. If a coin toss doesn’t end up accurate for our state, it would be reassuring to note that it’s Michigan, and the weather is infamously unpredictable. Whereas an early Spring for Washington would be weird, as their weather is also usually miserable.  

Several superstitions feature animals that can change and predict weather like dogs, cats, deer, spiders, etc. Why are they less valid than the mystical Phil? There’s science behind the spider’s prediction of weather being dry or moist. Why isn’t the Groundhog’s spider a thing? 

In conclusion, there is no reason why Punxatawny’s prediction should be held to an accurate standard, so if you do not like his prediction, I would recommend picking another animal that predicted an early Spring and base your life around that. 

I will personally be going with the Largemouth bass.