Groundhog Day: Will the Groundhog See Its Shadow?

Tomorrow is Groundhog Day, a tradition that centers on the idea of a groundhog emerging from its hibernation to “predict” the weather. On February 2, thousands will gather in Gobbler’s Knob, Pennsylvania to watch the famous groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, emerge from his lair and possibly see his shadow.

Legend has it that if the groundhog sees its shadow and returns to its burrow, there will be six more weeks of winter. But, if the animal does not see its shadow, then spring is right around the corner.

If Punxsutawney Phil doesn’t see his shadow and spring comes early, many parts of the country could be in for a longer pest season. This means homeowners might see an increase in pesky insects, including wasps, ticks, ants and mosquitoes, in and around homes due to the early arrival of warm weather.