North Carolina’s only live groundhog gives his annual prediction. Some think it stinks.
Snerd, the only groundhog in North Carolina hearty enough for a live forecast, poked his nose into the chilly drizzle Thursday and gave this grim prediction:
Six more weeks of winter.
Before a soaking wet crowd of maybe 50, including McGruff the Crime Dog, Garner’s famed weather marmot emerged from a denim jacket blanket and somehow saw a shadow in the gloom.
“Snerd knows what he’s talking about,” said Mayor Ken Marshburn. “Wish we could say an early spring.”
North Carolina’s roster of Groundhog Day prognosticators has dwindled down to a single whistle pig who still makes a live appearance: Snerd, Garner’s longtime weather guru.
Traditionalists also could still catch the word from Punxsutawney Phil in Pennsylvania, who agreed with Snerd,
Snerd gave North Carolina’s only live Groundhog Day show this year.
▪ Sir Walter Wally, Raleigh’s crowd-pleasing groundhog and perhaps the state’s best known, retired from his regular posting at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. The museum reports that its wildlife sanctuary supplier closed down during the pandemic, and no suitable replacement could be found.
▪ Queen Charlotte, who also retired last year from her namesake city, died shortly afterward at age 9.
▪ Pumpkin, who predicts winter’s duration from Chimney Rock State Park, is recovering from a veterinary visit and took the year off.
▪ Sylvia, the Apex armadillo who has diversified the state’s prognosticating mammal lineup, made a private appearance at a town elementary school.
This story was originally published January 31, 2023 at 1:17 PM.