Nature in NC can foretell spring better than groundhogs

Since human’s first began to wonder, we’ve wondered about of the future. Such insistence led to belief in sorcery and high priests, shaman and medicine men claiming the power to see lies ahead.

Within a couple of days, modern-day soothsayers will claim thee same power by consulting with a groundhog. European tradition insists the groundhog, akin to the marmot, when dragged out of his winter hibernation is able to forecast the arrival of spring.

These groundhog consultants claim that if the critter sees its shadow, winter weather will prevail for six more weeks. Lack of a shadow indicates spring is on its way.

Research reveals the groundhog’s shadow theory has proven to be incorrect by up to approximately 70 percent of the time. This suggests we Carolinians would obtain more accuracy by measuring the rate of sap rising in the maple trees, timing the emergence of fresh water turtles, counting the trilling of tree frogs or sniffing the blooms of our dogwood trees, thus providing a more reliable seasonal prediction than is offered by pulling a hibernating groundhog out of its winter den.

This story was originally published January 30, 2016 at 1:00 PM with the headline "Nature in NC can foretell spring better than groundhogs."