Fred la Marmotte agrees with groundhogs Phil and Willie: spring is just around the corner

Fred La Marmotte predicts an early spring Quebec’s Fred la Marmotte joined his counterparts Phil and Willie in not seeing his shadow and predicting that spring is around the corner.

MONTREAL — Don't let weather forecasts or a certain maritime groundhog fool you, Fred la Marmotte has spoken: spring is coming.

In the eastern part of the Gaspe Peninsula in Val-d'Espoir, Que. this morning, Fred did not see his shadow in the community's annual Jour de la Marmotte ceremony.

"Fred Junior," who took the mantle from his retired predecessor was the highlight of a ceremony that began at 6:30 a.m. Sunday.

Fred's rival, Shubenacadie Sam in Nova Scotia, predicted the opposite of Fred calling for six more weeks of winter.

Ontario's Wiarton Willie's prediction went the same way as Fred.

Pennsylvania's iconic Punxsutawney Phil also predicted an early spring.