Oregon Zoo's hedgehog sees shadow, predicts 6 more weeks of winter
PORTLAND, Ore. – Sorry, Punxsutawney Phil, but we’re not going to get an early spring after all.
The Oregon Zoo’s weather predicting Hedgehog, Jabari, saw his shadow on Saturday, which means Oregonians should expect six more weeks of winter.
“Hedgehogs are the traditional weather-prediction experts,” said zoo director Kim Smith. “The groundhog is actually a latecomer to the game. It was only when immigrants to the United States realized their new home didn’t have hedgehogs that they turned to the groundhog. Jabari is bringing the holiday back to its origins.”
Punxsutawney Phil, the famous weather predicting groundhog who was featured in the movie “Groundhog Day,” did not see his shadow Saturday.
So who’s right? Phil or Jabari?
“Last year, Jabari predicted an early spring, which was not all that accurate here in the Northwest,” Smith said. “But our hedgehog does have about the same success rate as Punxsutawney Phil.”
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 @uknow2 That didn't make any sense.
But...but...it was GROUNDhog day, not HEDGEhog day!
If he collects 100 gold rings we get Spring early? Â Must be an Occu-hog, too lazy to get them. Â Thanks, Sonic.
Hedgehogs are illegal alien rodents not from American, like Groundhogs.  I believe the Hedgehog is only acting in a terrorist  role.  Deport them.
Yup...saw his shadow...6 more weeks of winter...had he NOT seen his shadow it would only be about a month and a half until spring.....WOW!
But Punxsutawney Phil did not see his shadow. I'm all for an early spring.
Good grief, they actually named him? Does he get to vote also? LOL
Oops! There goes all his funding for global warming research!
Hedgehogs are just the cutest lil' critters.
Just use caution till they get used to you.
Those spines are SHARP! ;-)
How much hedge could a hedgehog hog if a hedgehog could hog hedge?
It is very obvious that we need a million dollar Federal study to determine that!
We could ask Peter Piper after he gets done pickling his pecker.....pepping his pickle.....pickling his peck of peppers.....*groan* @xilef regnuÂ
Since Groundhog Day has it's roots in the pagan holiday of Imbolc, I can only assume that a littany of lawsuits are forthcoming for all of the hardship that people have had to endure through the complicit sanctioning of such events by civic groups and municipalities?
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Seperation of church and state, don't 'cha know?
Not to mention the (ab)use of cute little cuddly animals for profit! LOL
@jpk Yeah - why isn't PETA protesting the fact the zoo interrupted Jabari's long winter nap?
 @MarkKpic ~  Ssshhh... please; DON'T give 'em any ideas..!  :-)
Sure hope whoever handled the hedgehog washed their hands real well after wards!
 @jpk Yep! Shame on the zoo director for not wearing gloves!!
 @jpk ~  For sure..!   That hedgehog's sure a cute little guy, isn't he..?  :-)
Yup! But how do you know it's gender? LOL
At least I know it doesn't look like my territorial attack gopher Herman, or Hermione.
@margay1 I have seen his little head, and also watched the little puffs of dirt that it kicks out of the hole. When I get there with whatever elimination device I have at hand, it smiles and disappears. Poison I poor down the hole, I find outside the hole the next day. As for leaving him there and moving? Not unless he pays the mortgage. A nice large hole in the front yard for a swimming might be nice though. Wonder how much the folks that imploded the San Diego power plant want for sending this pest into orbit. LOL
 @jpk ~ Ooops... I thought maybe you had your own trained "attack gopher"..!   I agree,  the ones that take up residence in your yard are NOT cool..!   You have my sympathy...
When we lived in Daly City, CA (just south of San Francisco, along the coast) in 1960-61, we had a whole YARD full of gophers, as did all the neighbors...you really had to walk carefully across the yard because of all the holes..! Â Â My dad tried everything to get rid of them; nothing worked... we finally gave up and moved to Marin County... Â Â
Nope! Taint cool at all! He/she/it set up housekeeping in my front yard last summer, and nothing I can legally do in town will get rid of it. Caddyshack does come to mind though! In the meantime, it is making my front lawn more brown than green, it seems like. None of my neighbors have had any intrusions into their lawns, although they are watching my eradication process with concerns.
 @jpk ~  You have an attack gopher (or "gophette")..?  Cool..!  :-)
I think Mother Nature trumps both hedgehogs AND groundhogs when it comes to the weather, especially in our beautiful PNW... Â The weather here does exactly what it wants to do, when it wants to do it; hedgehogs, groundhogs, scientists, and/or psychics notwithstanding..! Â Â :-)
 @margay1 >'hedgehogs, groundhogs, scientists, and/or psychics'
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and weatherpersons.Â
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Although, in all fairness, they can usually bat around 75-80% accuracy at less than 48 hours out.Â
@margay1 LOL, maybe up here in the NW we could all vote on what the majority wants in terms of weather?
 @jpk  @margay1 ~  Hey, why not..?!?  Voting on the weather would be much more fun than voting for politicians... and we'd have a better chance of getting what we wanted..!  :-)
Good maybe we will get some snowÂ