Community Corner

Woody, Michigan's Official Groundhog, Issues Apology

On the first day of spring, the weather forecast calls for snow, snow and more snow.

It's the first day of spring, and Woody, Michigan's Official Groundhog, who resides at the Howell Conference & Nature Center, has faced the fact that this year's seasonal prediction was incorrect. 

According to the National Weather Service, the forecast for Wednesday night is more snow showers and a low around 19 degrees. Thursday's forecast is a 50 percent of snow showers, cloudy, with a high near 32 degrees. Not your average spring weather. 

Like all female woodchuck prognosticators, Woody is not afraid to admit when she's wrong. And although she correctly picked the Baltimore Ravens to win the Super Bowl, she is avoiding March Madness in it's entirety. 

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Some observers recalled Woody's hesitation that morning, when she exited her house, went back in, then came out again just in time to indicate an early spring. One witness to the prediction noted, "Some female woodchucks exhibit indecisiveness, and it was clearly on display that morning." 

However, even if she may have been wrong this year, Woody's predictions have been spot on more often than not. 

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Year Prediction Right/Wrong 1999 Shadow/Late Spring Right 2000 No Shadow/Early Spring Right 2001 No Shadow/Early Spring
Wrong 2002 Shadow/Late Spring Right 2003 Shadow/Late Spring Right 2004 No Shadow/Early Spring Right 2005 No Shadow/Early Spring Wrong 2006 Shadow/Late Spring Right 2007 No Shadow/Early Spring Right 2008 No Shadow/Early Spring Wrong 2009 Shadow/Late Spring Right 2010 Shadow/Late Spring Right 2011 Shadow/Late Spring Right 2012 No Shadow/Early Spring Right 2013 No Shadow/Early Spring Wrong

Source: press release

Was Woody on the fence in her prediction this year? You be the judge. Watch the video above and tell us what you think in the comments. 


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