Meet Punxsutawney Phil

Punxsutawney Phil is a groundhog of epic celebrity.weather.
A groundhog is a rodent of the family Sciuridae.Every year since then, Punxsutawney Phil (there
Also known as a marmot, whistlepig, orhave most certainly been dozens of groundhogs
woodchuck, the groundhog eats wild greens andgiven this name) is celebrated and observed on
infuriates farmers by digging up or eating theirGobbler’s Knob to report the next six weeks
crops. More than any other woodland creature,of weather. Obviously, everyone understands that
Phil inspires delight in the hearts of children andthe groundhog’s prediction is not scientifically
adults. He has been doing this each February 2 foraccurate. Today’s Groundhog Day is just for
over 120 years! This groundhog has an interestingfun.
story. Phil is no ordinary groundhog.Phil isn’t the only famous prognosticating
The Delaware Indians named a small town ingroundhog. There’s also Wiarton Willie,
Pennsylvania after the copious population ofBrandon Bob, Grundoon, Muldoon, and Sand Dune,
sandflies. The Indian word for sandfly isBalzac Billie, Staten Island Chuck, Gary the
Punxsutawney. About 150 years later, theGroundhog, Shubenacadie Sam, and several other
Punxsutawney Spirit newspaper dubbed aNorth American Groundhog Day mascots. In 1956,
groundhog Punxsutawney Phil, Seer of Seers,Mac McKenzie became the first human weather
Sage of Sages, Prognosticator of Prognosticators,predictor on Groundhog Day in Canada.
and Weather Prophet Extraordinary”. ThisPunxsutawney’s tourism board insists that
was in keeping with the Candlemas tradition duringthe other groundhogs are just jealous imposters.
which members of the society would look toAccording to them, Phil is the only groundhog
forest creatures to determine the comingwhose prognostication can be trusted.