HE DIDN’T SEE HIS SHADOW
It’s an early spring, says Two Rivers Tunnel.
Weather conditions that resembled a spring-like day rather than the first week of February might have been the best early indicator of what was to come from Cape Breton’s most famous weather prognosticator.
As heavy rains poured down, Two Rivers Tunnel emerged from his tiny little home at the Two Rivers Wildlife Park on Friday morning and predicted an early spring in Cape Breton.
“If Tunnel says winter is over — for this year anyway — then it is over,” said John Huntington, the manager at Two Rivers Wildlife Park.
The groundhog’s annual prediction came precisely at 11:22 a.m., as it does every year on Feb. 2.
Not at all bothered by the wet weather, the furry forecaster roamed around his pen for several minutes this year after being awoken from a long sleep. Finally, he was corralled by park volunteer Cameron MacLean, who brought him before MLA Alfie MacLeod where his forecast for 2018 was revealed.
“He said ‘it is awfully wet out here but there’s no shadows out here so we should be OK,’” MacLeod said. “A little fellow like that, of course I trust him.”
Had he seen his shadow, Tunnel would have returned to his hole to prepare for six more weeks of winter weather. Instead, town crier Ken Carmichael, in his proclamation, said he would return to his home to consider some spring cleaning.
Though the rain didn’t keep the groundhog from doing his job, it did force the cancellation of several school trips to the park on Friday. As a result, only several dozen people observed the ceremony.
“It was the prediction we were hoping for,” said Kim Aucoin, who was on hand with her family. “It’s fun, despite the rain.”
The Two Rivers prediction of an early spring lined up with that of his mainland counterpart, Shubenacadie Sam, who also predicted an early spring.
Lucy the Lobster, a new take on the annual ceremony for residents of the South Shore, also did not see her shadow.
The most famous of the weather forecasting groundhogs, Punxsutawney Phil in Pennsylvania, saw his shadow, indicating six more weeks of winter.
Huntington said Tunnel was right on with his prediction of an early spring last year and has been operating at a pretty impressive 65-70 per cent success rate through the years.
“There was one day here precisely at 11:22 a.m. the clouds moved in and overcast and he didn’t see his shadow,” he recalled.
“We were the only ones right that year, so I think he knows what he is doing.”
Friday’s ceremony was set to kick off a weekend of activities at the park. However, forecasted heavy rain and cold temperatures have moved those Winter Frolic events to a future weekend.