Groundhog Day heralds early spring

Spring is coming early in the US, a groundhog has predicted. The groundhog — Punxsutawney Phil — emerged from his burrow in Pennsylvania at sunrise and did not see his shadow. Tradition suggests that means spring is coming early. The festivities have their origin in a German legend that says if a furry rodent casts a shadow on February 2, winter continues. If not, spring comes early.

And Groundhog Day can prove dangerous. In 2015 New York mayor Bill de Blasio accidentally dropped the furry critter. It died a week later. And in 2009 former NY mayor Michael Bloomberg was bitten by the groundhog.