FRENCH CREEK, W.Va. — When you look at the winter of 2020 so far, it’s hard to believe we’re not already experiencing an “early spring.” However, Sunday marks Groundhog Day and as tradition dictates, everyone will pause and look to a furry rodent to determine the direction weather patterns will take for the next six weeks.
In West Virginia, the official groundhog prognosticator is French Creek Freddie, a resident of the DNR’s West Virginia Wildlife Center in Upshur County.
“Freddie at one time was willing to go out on a limb and say he was 50 to 60 percent accurate, so he was better than a coin flip which is saying something,” said Wildlife Center Manager Tyler Evans.
Evans expected a fairly large crowd at the facility Sunday morning to be part of the annual ceremony which has been happening since 1978.
“For the last 43 years, it’s been a really big celebration. It’s a good opportunity for people to get outside and come see the Wildlife Center and French Creek Freddie, who is the most famous groundhog in West Virginia,” he said.
The event starts at 9:30 and will include a brief history lesson about Groundhog Day and how the tradition started. It came to the United States with immigrants from Europe. In their native land, the tradition was to use a hedgehog or other animal for a mid-winter prediction, but upon arrival in their new home, the groundhog was the most abundant critter to use for the task. Sunday, at 10 a.m. Freddie will be rousted from his lair to give his prediction.
According to Evans, he actually is hibernating.
“He’s actually the only species we have at the wildlife center that’s a true hibernator. Even our bears stay active through the winter, as opposed to what they do in the wild. But the groundhogs to truly hibernate,” he explained.
Once Freddie makes his appearance, he generally returns to his box and continues his nap, regardless of whether he saw a shadow. Freddie is among several groundhogs at the wildlife center, but he gets all of the attention. Evans was unsure how many “Freddies” there had been over the years, but he suspected several.
“Typically in the wild the only live a few years and even in captivity, they don’t live much longer than a cat would, or a dog,” said Evans.
The festivities at the Wildlife Center will continue after Freddie’s appearance with refreshments and other activities, including a “wood chucking contest.” The Wildlife Center is located on State Route 20 south of Buckhannon.