Police issue ‘warrant’ for Chuckles’ arrest

Every year, Chuckles XI, the state’s official groundhog, makes his prediction for either six more weeks of winter or an early spring, and every year it brings criticism from those who don’t agree with his prognostication.

But little did the rodent know that his recent prediction for an early spring would result in a “warrant” for his arrest.

Chuckles, along with Punxsutawney Phil in Pennsylvania and other local Connecticut animals, made similar annual predictions on Groundhog Day, Feb. 2, but many towns in the state saw more than a foot of snow fall after a storm hit 10 days later.

On Monday, the Guilford Police Department launched an investigation into Chuckles’ weather miscalculations, alleging that “Chuck the Liar” defrauded the public through his inaccurate predictions, and called for his immediate arrest.

“If anyone has seen this Marmota monax that goes by the name Chuckles, let us know,” Guilford police wrote in a tongue-in-cheek social media post, “because we want the last laugh.”

Chuckles XI normally lives at the Lutz Children’s Museum in Manchester, where he also delivered his prediction earlier this month.

Patricia Buxton, director of the Lutz Children’s Museum, said she is confident that Chuckles will beat the charges.

“He made the best possible decision he could have with the information he had at the time,” Buxton said. “He had his charts and graphs out, he took out a pencil.”

Buxton said Wednesday that Chuckles had gone into hiding but was working with his advocates to peacefully surrender to a local police department. And on Thursday morning, he emerged from hiding to turn himself in at the Manchester Police Department.

Lt. Nick Reinert said Thursday that Chuckles would be processed and held by Manchester police before being transferred to Guilford police, unless he posts his $10,000 bail first.

The groundhog looked out from the barred windows of the police cruiser, despondent as ever, though his friends at the Lutz were undeterred.

Buxton said Thursday that Chuckles will be “vindicated” when warmer weather comes in. “He stands by his prognostication,” Buxton said.

Buxton said she hopes Chuckles will be able to post bail, as he has many friends across Connecticut.

Chuckles similarly predicted an early spring on Groundhog Day 2023, and a significant snowstorm followed in late February 2023.

The Lutz is a nonprofit children’s museum that hosts events and programs beyond its iconic annual Groundhog Day festivities. The museum focuses on educational activities for kids aged 2 through 10, often in collaboration with state agencies and other organizations. Mayor Jay Moran said Thursday that he and Chuckles are “family,” and he will resist Guilford’s prosecution of the state groundhog to the highest degree that he can.

“You tell (Guilford First Selectman Matthew Hoey) that if you want Chuckles, you have to get through me,” Moran said.

Joseph Villanova/Hearst Connecticut Media Chuckles XI, the state’s official groundhog, sits in police car Thursday, after being “arrested” for defrauding the public with his weather predictions.