I find it only fitting in the midst of the first real cold snap of this winter, one which forecasters and the Farmer’s Almanac said would be colder than normal, that a bunch of rodents have determined it will continue for six more weeks. That’s right, today is Groundhog Day (in case you didn’t figure it out by the post title) and if the little beasts are right, we’re in for the long haul.
I’m not sure how often the groundhogs are right, but according to the CBC, at least three of the major prognosticators all agreed that winter will continue. I’d say those are pretty good odds, or at least it means it was sunny earlier this morning in at least three places in the US and Canada.
While I can’t say I’m a huge believer in weather prediction using animal shadows, I truly believe that animals have a sense of long-term weather patterns. It only makes sense in our climate, where knowing if winter will continue for six more weeks is a matter of life or death. I do know that despite the occasional winter thaw, the squirrels and chipmunks continue to store away food, which is a woodsy-wisdom sign of more winter weather to come.
Also, on the weekend a bear told me he was planning to pick up a new fur coat, but was going to wait until it went on sale in the spring, so he had 5 months to save up for it. That’s pretty telling too.
Anyways, let’s all hunker down and enjoy a nice, long, cold winter.
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