An early spring prediction, says groundhog Diggie Smalls

It is Groundhog Day but it was even cold for Diggie Smalls to go outside for his prediction.

Just when you might think you can’t handle any more cold and winter, how about a saving grace?

Melting snow, warm weather and blossoming flowers may not be too far off according to the region’s new resident groundhog, Diggie Smalls, who is predicting an early spring.

As legend has it, if a groundhog sees its shadow on Feb. 2, we can expect six more weeks of winter and if it doesn’t, we’re in for an early spring.

According to Speaking of Wildlife, a wildlife sanctuary in Orillia, Diggie is still in training.

“She came to be with us after living in the wild and a natural life, she picked up a parasite that, unfortunately, caused neurological damage,” Speaking of Wildlife told CTV News. “She ended up in rehabilitation but, unfortunately, could not be released.”

The wildlife sanctuary said the extreme cold prevented the groundhog from coming out of its enclosure but that she made her prediction from a podium by a window.

Other famous groundhogs are also predicting an early end to winter including Wiarton Willie, the groundhog from Bruce County, Buckeye Chuck from Ohio, Jimmy from Wisconsin, and Fred la Marmotte from Quebec’s Gaspésie region.

But some groundhogs did in fact see their shadows, like Punxsutawney Phil from Pennsylvania, predicting six more weeks of winter.

Some groundhogs are simply not even making a prediction due to severe winter weather, like Nova Scotia’s Shubenacadie Sam. As a winter storm brews north of Halifax, it is expected to hammer eastern Ontario.

Speaking of Wildlife says Caddyshack, the original prognosticating groundhog, passed away in 2024 due to cancer.