Groundhog doesn't see shadow, so spring may be early

DAILY MAIL STAFF

West Virginia's own furry little weatherman, French Creek Freddie,did not see his shadow this morning, meaning an early spring.

State Division of Natural Resources biologist Rob Silvester helpednudge Freddie out of his Upshur County burrow about 10 a.m. today.

No shadow was apparent, likely because of an overcast sky.

Silvester said groundhogs are usually in hibernation this time ofyear, but the groundhogs at the Wildlife Center at French Creekfailed to take their prolonged nap this winter.

Silvester attributed their lack of sleep to weather that was moremild than normal and the amount of food they are supplied with year-round.

Freddie, along with the rest of the groundhogs, would normally bewaking up sometime within the next few weeks.

The Wildlife Center officials have been carrying on this traditionwith Freddie since 1978.

Silvester said Freddie almost always agrees with the more famousPunxsutawney Phil from Pennsylvania, but officials at French Creekallow more time for the sun to come out if it is going to do so.

"Ours is more realistic," Silvester said, adding that Phil issometimes pulled from his burrow before the sun is even up.

One local weather forecaster with more formal experience disagreedwith Freddie's prediction for an early spring.

Eric Seymour, a meteorologist at Charleston's Weather Service,said the outlook for the eight to 14-day forecast is showing below-normal temperatures. Past mid-February, Seymour said, it would behard for meteorologists to give an accurate prediction.

Contact writer Samantha L. Thomas at samantha@dailymail. com or348-4819.