Groundhog Chuck Predicts When Spring Will Come to New York

The annual Groundhog Day was celebrated in New York City as usual on February 2. Groundhog Chuck of Staten Island did not see his shadow on Sunday, February 2, and predicted an early spring in 2025. Read more about the forecast USAToday.

Chuck was greeted by more than 150 fans as he sat inside a hollowed-out log in a special enclosure at the Staten Island Zoo. Shortly after the ceremony began at 7:30 a.m., the groundhog announced the news of spring in 2025. He did not see his shadow, which means an early spring in 2025.

Chuck's prediction contradicts that of Phil, a groundhog from Pennsylvania, who, after seeing his shadow at Gobbler's Knob, predicted six more weeks of winter.

Last year's Groundhog Day forecast

Last year, both Chuck and Phil predicted an early spring.

Who is Staten Island Chuck?

Staten Island Chuck, known as Charles G. Hogg, lives at the Staten Island Zoo in New York City. The groundhog has been making predictions since 1981. According to the Staten Island Zoo, the accuracy forecasts Chuck is 85%, higher than his more famous counterpart, Punxsutawney Phil.

His prediction accuracy is 39%. Chuck is so beloved that he even has his own theme song, Rock-A-Billy-Band.

On the subject: The weather in New York will become hotter and more humid: weather forecasters were puzzled by the forecast for the future

Ten years ago, New York City lost one of its most prized rodents. During Groundhog Day celebrations on February 2, 2014, then-mayor Bill de Blasio failed to properly grasp the groundhog he had chosen to play Staten Island’s Chuck. Charlotte, the rodent’s name, escaped his grasp and fell headfirst onto the ground. The animal died a week later from internal injuries.

To be fair, de Blasio was a mayor, not a zookeeper, so he wore bulky gloves to protect his hands after the previous Chuck bit his predecessor, Mike Bloomberg, while he was coaxing the animal out of its enclosure.

Groundhog Day

Groundhog Day is celebrated every year on February 2, just like the Presentation of the Lord, from which some of the holiday's traditions originate.

The Christian holiday of Candlemas is celebrated every year on February 2, 40 days after Christmas. Over the centuries, Europeans developed various customs associated with the holiday. It is the midpoint between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. One of the customs was related to the weather, which on Candlemas determined the outcome of the rest of the winter. And in many parts of Europe, the custom was associated with animals, such as bears, badgers and hedgehogs, who were beginning to wake up from their winter slumber.

When German immigrants arrived in America, they found a groundhog in Pennsylvania. The groundhog reminded them of the hedgehog in their home country. So, it is the groundhog that has been charged with this important duty every year ever since.