Punxsutawney Phil will appear at sunrise on February 2 at Gobbler's Knob in the Pennsylvania Wilds to make his annual prediction on the 132nd Groundhog Day.

Do you know how the story begins? Well, there was a German holiday called Candlemas where candles were blessed and distributed.  Clear skies predicted six more weeks of bad weather or "Second Winter.

In 1886, groundhog hunters from Punxsutawney called themselves "The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club." Visitpa.com says "one member was an editor of Punxsutawney's newspaper. Using his ink, he proclaimed Punxsutawney Phil, the local groundhog, to be the one and only weather prognosticating groundhog. He issued this proclamation on Candlemas, and yes, Groundhog Day. Phil's fame spread, and newspapers from around the globe began to report his Gobbler's Knob prediction. Today you will find 20,000+ in attendance and millions watching on television or via the web."

On Friday, February 2, 2018, you can watch Punxsutawney Phil make his prediction via live stream here.

Groundhog Facts according to Visitpa.com:

  • The average groundhog is 20 inches long and normally weighs from 12 to 15 pounds. Punxsutawney Phil weighs about 20 pounds and is 22 inches long.
  • Groundhogs are covered with coarse grayish fur tipped with brown or sometimes dull red. They have short ears, a short tail, short legs, and are surprisingly quick. Their jaws are exceptionally strong.
  • A groundhog's diet consists of lots of greens, fruits, and vegetables and very little water. Most of their liquids come from dewy leaves.
  • A groundhog can whistle when it is alarmed. Groundhogs also whistle in the spring when they begin courting, hence their nickname as a “whistlepig.”
  • Insects do not bother groundhogs and germs pretty much leave them alone. They are resistant to the plagues that periodically wipe out large numbers of wild animals. One reason for this is their cleanliness.
  • Groundhogs are one of the few animals that really hibernate. Hibernation is actually a deep coma, where the body temperature drops to a few degrees above freezing, the heart barely beats, the blood scarcely flows, and breathing nearly stops.
  • Young groundhogs are usually born in mid-April or May, and by July they are able to go out on their own. The size of the litter is four to nine. A baby groundhog is called a kit or a cub.
  • A groundhog's lifespan is normally six to eight years. Phil receives a drink of a magical punch every summer during the annual Groundhog Picnic, which gives him seven more years of life.

Bonus Video:

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