Forget about Wiarton Willie, Shubenacadie Sam, or Punxsutawney Phil, did you know there's a groundhog weather prognosticator in neighbouring Simcoe County?
Caddyshack the groundhog resides in Severn Township, and is quite happy to give us her Groundhog Day prediction, as she did early today as part of a live feed from her home at Speaking of Wildlife, a local wildlife refuge for native Ontario species.
But where did Caddyshack come from, and how did she become such an expert on springtime?
“Caddy came to us in the summer of 2016,” explained Speaking of Wildlife owner Krystal Hewitt. “She was orphaned or abandoned and in need of immediate care. So, she was taken to a local wildlife rehabilitation centre to be raised, introduced to her own species, and later, released.”
Unfortunately, as there were no other groundhogs at the centre for several weeks, Caddyshack became habituated to people rather than her own species, according to Hewitt.
“So, she was not able to be released into the wild and came here to live her life and become a wildlife ambassador for Speaking of Wildlife," Hewitt explained.
Caddyshack loves her caregivers and her life at Speaking of Wildlife, Hewitt said.
“She has her favourite treats, and gets along well with all of our staff here,” said Hewitt. “She enjoys clover, dandelions, and berries. In addition to this, Caddyshack has a strong fondness for bananas. She is a fantastic wildlife ambassador, as she is very cute, easy for us to handle, and can easily be bribed with her favourite treat."
Caddyshack has been predicting the advent of spring ever since she first came to Speaking of Wildlife.
“So far, she has predicted an early spring five times out of six," said Hewitt.
And what is Caddyshack’s prediction for today? Winter lovers won't like it: no shadow was seen, so it's a nice, early spring for all of us.
If you would like to meet Caddyshack, and many of her friends and companions at Speaking of Wildlife, the facility is open for tours on Sunday, Feb. 18 at set times, or for private tours, by appointment. Email [email protected] to book your tour today.