Groundhog Day tradition to resume in Georgia amid relocation to new digs

JACKSON, Ga.—Georgia’s famous groundhog, who has drawn large crowds in the past for his make-believe weather forecast on Groundhog Day, now has a new home.

The groundhog’s previous residence, the Yellow River Game Ranch in Gwinnett County, closed last month.

Its new home is at Dauset Trails Nature Center in Butts County, about an hour’s drive south of Atlanta, WABE Radio reported.

Dauset Trails plans to continue the tradition of welcoming people for the Groundhog Day celebration, which is next month.

The nature center’s director, Ike English, says it took in Gen. Lee during the past week.

“He’s still in hibernation and fat and happy and sleeping right now,” English said.

Most of the other exotic animals, and the other less-notable groundhog, have also been relocated to the preserve, the radio station reported.

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources still has to find homes for four black bears and two vultures, said Lt. Wayne Hubbard of the agency’s law enforcement division.

Hubbard said the department is working to relocate the bears together to minimize stress.

“It’d be like if you had pets that had grown up together and you got rid of one or one passed away,” he said. “The other might react to that, not having that companion around.”

Hubbard said they’re trying to keep the vultures together, too.

Georgia facilities that could take the animals don’t have the space, so DNR officials are looking out of state.

Dauset Trails Nature Center is about 50 miles southeast of Atlanta.