Groundhog’s Tale

Looking for Spring

In February, when a few gusty flakes

Above the frozen sheets of ice still hover

Out of his hole, the sleepy groundhog breaks

To peek around to see if winter is over.

Now, if he finds his shadow back, he shies

To nap while deeper drifts the wind shall bring;

But if no shadows show beneath the dark blue skies,

He waddles through the ditch to look for spring.

Marnie Pomeroy

Groundhog Day was once known as Candlemas Day. The Groundhog Punxsutawney Phil has been making predictions since 1886. For hundreds of years, Europeans marked the coming of spring with the emergence of badgers, bears, and other animals from winter hibernation. German immigrants brought to Pennsylvania a custom similar to Groundhog Day. If the animal comes out of the den on a sunny day and sees his shadow, he will become frightened and go back into his den for six more weeks. On a cloudy day, the animal stays out, and spring is just around the corner. It, no doubt, makes for an early celebration on February 2nd each year. Believe it or not, many immigrant farmers used the animal’s habits as a barometer. Others knew one arbitrary day could not predict the weather. The location of the animals and other factors figure in and determine how long the animal stays out and tests the air. It is said that hunger and a sex drive determine their actions. It could be their shadows do not scare them. Who really knows what is on the mind of a woodchuck?

Now my dad believed, like the German immigrants, the Groundhog had special gifts, and the Almanac was almost important to have as a good book. As for me, I am not sure about any predictions...

When I lived down at the end of Elm Street in Brazil, this curious bystander did watch a sizable groundhog come out from under my henhouse more than once. They build long tunnels, and I could not be sure whether that was the entrance or the exit. One of the feed customers said to shoot him with your dad’s old 22 revolvers. They had not harmed anything, as far as I could see. The animal did not harm the chickens and ducks. I could see from those long brownish sharp-looking teeth and claws tangling with the visitor was not in my best interest. Out came the have-a-heart trap baited and set. In no time, the old male was loaded in the cart, no fuss!

Like the large lizard, we found one spring, with help, my catch was delivered to the back of the property. We never saw him again.

The good news came recently when the Brownsburg High School decided to expand their parking lots and fill in the deep ditch taking the standing water and anything else that hangs out in the weeds a few feet from the property line. Here, we have a small utility shed with a skunk underneath its floor. We have wild rabbits and hawks hereabouts -- a taste of home.

I may or may not watch Phil give believers a thrill or a chill…

I can be reached by phone at 317-286-7352