GROUNDHOG day is tomorrow as Americans wait to see if Punxsutawney Phil will see his shadow or not.
While Phil remains the crown prince of the holiday that predicts whether or not millions of Americans have six more weeks of winter, other animals have given him competition.
According to folklore, there will be six more weeks of winter if he sees his shadow. If he doesn’t, spring comes early.
The tradition began among the German community in Pennsylvania in 1887 and has become a massive tourist event in the last few decades.
Scramble the Duck, who wows Connecticut residents with his accurate predictions on Duck Day, and Bob the Armadillo, who gives hope to his fellow Texans for fewer harsh winter days, are giving Phil a run for his money.
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Scramble and Bob predict the weather like Phil does - if they see their shadow, then that means another six more weeks of winter.
Bob is about seven years old and lives with his owners, Ralph and Sandra Fisher, on their ranch in Swiss Alp, Texas.
As Texas's designated small mammal, Bob has been predicting the weather on Armadillo Day for 13 years (before Bob, Bob Sr. was the head of the day's festivities).
Several hundred people, including some onlookers from out of state, come to Bee Cave to "celebrate Texas" on Armadillo Day, which is organized by the Benevolent Knights of the Raccoon.
CONNECTICUT: SCRAMBLE THE DUCK
Northeast of Texas, Scramble, who lives on a farm in Eastford, Connecticut, also predicts the weather for his community.
Scramble is the star of the show during Duck Day, which is held at the Ivy Glen Memorial - a historic building in Eastford.
“It's really a special community event just to have everybody come out," Scramble's owner, Isaac Torcellini, told The U.S. Sun.
"So there's a lot of excitement."
Scramble is most proud of his 100 percent success rate that he's kept since he started predicting the weather in 2015.
“The common animal used in the United States is groundhogs. But groundhogs, they live underground. They don't see all that well, and they're not used to weather that much," Issac said.
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“Ducks are a lot more used to weather. And they're around all the time in the air and they like to play in the rain. They have a much better sense there.”
Scramble is four years old, so this success rate is shared with Scramble Sr.
Isaac said that if Scramble could speak, he would tell Phil that he "isn't the most accurate."
“But he's a very friendly duck, so I'm not sure he would want to engage in any sort of conflict there," Isaac said.
Scramble is "a little bit of a local celebrity now," according to Isaac.
“Scramble is very good with humans. He's very friendly. He likes to talk to people and he’s really a showman.”
FLORIDA: BURROWING OWL
The burrowing owl, common in southwest Florida and in parts of Central and South America, is also said to predict six extra weeks of winter if it sees its shadow, according to Fox Weather.
It is one of the smallest owls in the state but residents swear by its abilities.
"It’s our way of localizing the classic Groundhog Day event and making it our own," said Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife Vice President Pascha Donaldson.
"The event is also an opportunity to spread awareness and provide education on burrowing owls."
That said, winters in Florida are far from the worst, with temperature lows generally in the upper 50s.
NORTH CAROLINA: PISGAH PENNY THE SQUIRREL
Also at the center of a prediction ceremony on February 2 is Pisgah Penny who is making her debut this year for Brevard, North Carolina's White Squirrel Day.
The adorable creature will predict not only how many weeks of winter are left, but also who will win the Super Bowl.
Penny is a niece of Pisgah Pete who has led the charge for the first few years of the event, which is now in its eighth year.
Pete retired from the role in January 2022.
The event is organized as a fundraiser for The White Squirrel Institute, a local non-profit organization that provides financial assistance to local licensed wildlife rehabilitators, WLOS reports.
NEW YORK: CLUCKSATAWNEY HENRIETTA THE CHICKEN
In another February 2 tradition, Henrietta the Chicken relies heavily on her friend Punxsutawney Phil for her prediction to take place, according to Fox Weather.
Farmers in the Muscoot Farm in the town of Katonah claim that if Henrietta lays her egg during the annual Groundhog Day ceremony, then Spring is on its way.
Six more weeks of winter are on their way to New Yorkers if she doesn't.
Henrietta has been making predictions since 2019 and has said there'd be an early spring each year so far.
The success rate is at 100 percent as she battles this year to keep her winning streak going.
OREGON: FUFU THE HEDGEHOG
FuFu the hedgehog has only been making predictions for a few years but has already become a favorite at Oregon Zoo.
Centuries ago, Europeans would look to the prickly creatures for weather analysis in a tradition stemming from folklore.
And FuFu already has a great track record against Phil.
The Oregon Zoo hedgehogs have so far succeeded in a 53 percent accuracy rate.
OREGON: STUMPTOWN FIL THE BEAVER
Oregon Zoo also hosts another animal it believes can predict the end of winter: Filbert the Beaver.
Fil's predictions have shown themselves to be less than accurate, however.
Back in 2020, the beaver said that an early spring was on the way.
Yet only a month later, the zoo was forced to temporarily close due to ice and snow.
Still zookeepers say that beavers are primed to make weather predictions.
TEXAS: BEE CAVE BOB THE ARMADILLO
Just outside of Austin, Bob the Armadillo reigns supreme for winter weather predictions.
The animal is driven from Katy to Bee Cave each year for a crowd to witness as he looks for insights on an early spring.
Organizers admit that Bob is not always correct.
Yet they praise the creature for getting through the Lone Star State's winters and summer heat.
Owner Ralph Fisher has had the armadillo now for 13 years.
He was born in the world's "west pole" - Bee Cave, Texas - where a party is held each year for "Armadillo Day."
"We don't appreciate rodents too much here in Texas," Fisher said of Punxsutawney Phil.
"Who could respect a rodent?
"I imagine they would just be fighting it out," he added of Bob and Phil.
