FRENCH CREEK, W.Va. — The nation’s eyes Wednesday will focus on Punxsutawney , Pa. and the annual prognostication from the town’s most famous resident, Phil, to determine the long range weather forecast. However, in West Virginia there are other options. Concord University has the campus groundhog Charlie, who is annually consulted about the possibility of early spring.
But, in Upshur County, and the rest of West Virginia folks turn to French Creek Freddie. The resident groundhog at the West Virginia Wildlife Center will emerge from his burrow at 10 a.m. to have a look around.
“We had to cancel last year due to covid concerns, but this year we’re going full steam ahead,” said Trevor Moore, Wildlife Biologist at the facility.
The events will start around 9 a.m. with local school chidden performing songs and getting involved in the celebration. Moore will also give a talk to those gathered about some ground hog facts.
“Groundhogs are actually really big rodents. They’re big squirrels almost or chipmunks. They’re also known as whistle pigs because they make a whistling sound when they get nervous our alarmed,” Moore explained.
Those kinds of facts will be imparted during the hour long presentation up to the big moment.
“They’re one of North America’s true hibernating species. That means they actually do go into deep hibernation. Their body temperature will go to almost 40 degrees and their heartbeat slows down to almost five beats a minute. Their metabolism really slows down,” he said.
However, around early February, the groundhogs start to awaken and males will start coming out of their den and looking for a mate. The legend holds if the groundhog sees his shadow when he emerges, there will be six more weeks of winter, but seeing no shadow will mean an early spring.
Freddie’s prediction will come at 10 a.m. at the Wildlife Center. His pronouncement will be followed by a wood chucking contest.