Shubenacadie Sam To Make Virtual Groundhog Day Prediction

Shubenacadie Sam is turning to technology to help predict the arrival of spring.

Nova Scotians are invited to celebrate Groundhog Day virtually this year and watch the prediction on social media. Shubenacadie Sam will emerge from his burrow at Shubenacadie Wildlife Park with his spring forecast Tuesday, Feb. 2, at 8 a.m.

Folklore says winter will last for six more weeks if the groundhog sees its shadow. No shadow is a sign of an early spring.

“Groundhog Day celebrates the important role weather plays in our lives and culture,” said Derek Mombourquette, Minister of Lands and Forestry. "With virtual celebrations, everyone can take part in the fun by following Shubenacadie Sam and the wildlife park on social media.”

The wildlife park will also celebrate World Wetlands Day on Feb. 2. Wetlands provide important habitats for hundreds of wildlife species, including species at risk. They also mitigate the effects of climate change by absorbing carbon and buffering coastal communities from rises in sea level and storm surges.

There will be no public events for Groundhog Day at the Shubenacadie Wildlife Park this year.

Quick Facts:

• Shubenacadie Sam will be the first groundhog to make a prediction, about an hour before other groundhogs in Ontario and the eastern United States
• Shubenacadie Wildlife Park is open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekends during the winter but will be closed on Groundhog Day, Feb. 2.

Additional Resources:

Shubenacadie Wildlife Park on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShubenacadieWildlifePark

Shubenacadie Sam on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ShubenacadieSam

Shubenacadie Wildlife Park website: http://wildlifepark.novascotia.ca

Lands and Forestry on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NSLandsForestry

Historical Groundhog Day predictions: https://data.novascotia.ca/Lands-Forests-and-Wildlife/Shubenacadie-Wildlife-Park-Groundhog-Day-Predictio/4y37-h2yu

World Wetlands Day: https://www.worldwetlandsday.org/