SAY IT AIN’T SO SAM...
Much-loved groundhog makes timid appearance on a frigid morning
It wasn’t quite the news most people were looking for but that didn’t stop them from enjoying the day with that rascally rodent Shubie Sam.
TRURO, N. S. – Best keep the toques and gloves handy, folks.
The East Coast’s furry little forecaster predicts six more weeks of bone-chilling weather, making his forecast by poking his nose out, taking a few nervous steps, then scuttling back inside his hut.
“I don’t want any more winter,” said Stewiacke resident Jennifer Laffin. “I want more spring. I want it to be nice and warm.”
Laffin and her little son, John, joined hundreds of other families to watch Shubenacadie Sam make his annual spring forecast on Feb. 2 at the Shubenacadie Provincial Wildlife Park.
Her father Patrick Pickles was more upbeat
“I think we’ll get an early spring anyways,” he said.
Unlike some years that saw Sam happily frolic around his pen in front of delighted children, he clearly did not enjoy being outside in temperatures of nearly –20 C and hid away.
“He may not see his shadow in that corner, but I would say his prediction is official,” said town crier Anita Benedict, looking towards a patch of ground near Sam’s hut. If he came over here, he would see his shadow – and back to his burrow he wants to go.”
Legend has it that if the groundhog sees its shadow, winter will continue for six more weeks. No shadow means an early spring. Shubenacadie Sam has now been offering Nova Scotians Groundhog Day forecasts from his pen for 31 years.