Shubenacadie Sam

Shubenacadie Sam is a Canadian groundhog who lives at the Shubenacadie Wildlife Park in the town of Shubenacadie, Nova Scotia. Every February 2, on Groundhog Day, Sam's shadow is closely observed at 08:00 AST to make the traditional prediction whether there will be an early spring. Due to Nova Scotia's Atlantic Time Zone, Sam makes the first Groundhog Day prediction in North America.[1]

The prediction ceremony is usually heralded by a bagpiper and town crier and draws an early-morning festive crowd of families and visitors. Shubenacadie Sam predicted a long winter in 2023. The live ceremony with members of the public resumed this year after being held virtual for the last two years as due to Covid-19 precautions.[2]

History

The Shubenacadie Sam tradition began about 1987 and differs from most other famous groundhogs as he is not woken from hibernation for Groundhog Day.[3] By 2018, four ground hogs had served as "Shubenacadie Sam" since the practice began in Nova Scotia, as groundhogs usually live 10-15 years in captivity.[4] In 2021, Sam was a 7-year-old female groundhog.[5] Park employees served as the caretaker for Shubenacadie Sam and the park's groundhogs for almost 17 years. They provided breakfast for the groundhog, usually yogurt and melon. Staff also read to the groundhog who has been designated an advocate for Family Literacy Day. Shubenacadie Sam usually draws around 200 spectators for his or her prediction.[6]

Predictions
2023 "Long Winter"[7]
2022 "Long Winter"[8]
2021 "Early Spring"[9]
2020 "Long Winter"[10]
2019 "Long Winter"[11]
2018 "Early Spring"[12]
2017"Early Spring"[13]
2016"Early Spring"[14]
2015“Long Winter"[15]
2014“Early Spring"[16][17]
2013“Long winter"[18]
2012"Early spring"[19]
2011"Early spring"[20]
2010"Long winter"[21]
2009"Long winter"[22]
2008"Early Spring"[23]
2007"Early spring"[24]
2006"Early Spring"[25]

Biting Incident

In 2018, Sam bit the finger of CBC reporter Brett Ruskin when the reporter grabbed the groundhog to stop Sam from climbing out of the groundhog enclosure.[26]

Background

While Shubenacadie offers the earliest prediction every year, it is one of many towns throughout North America known for their winter-predicting groundhogs. The most famous is Punxsutawney Phil of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, United States. The most famous Canadian groundhog is Wiarton Willie in Ontario, Canada. Sam shares the Nova Scotia prediction every year with "Two Rivers Tunnel" in Cape Breton at the Two Rivers Wildlife Park in Mira River, Nova Scotia, although "Two Rivers Tunnel" is awakened for its prediction just after 11 am instead of 8 am.[27] Promoters of a lobster festival in Barrington Passage, Nova Scotia created a "Lucy the Lobster" ritual in 2018 with a lobster that crawled from the water to a lobster trap on Groundhog Day.[28]

Shubenacadie Sam's prediction, like all weather-predicting groundhogs, bears little relation to seasonal weather trends as it is based on random location conditions, according to Meteorologist Cindy Day. Shubenacadie Sam has an accuracy rate of about 45%, according to Day, compared to 39% for Punxsutawney Phil and 25% for Wiarton Willie.[29]

See also

Notes
  1. "Shubenacadie Sam to Make Annual Prediction" Nova Scotia Government Dept. of Natural Resources Press Release Jan. 28, 2010
  2. Natalie Lombard, "Shubenacadie Sam sees shadow, predicts six more weeks of winter", CTV News Atlantic, Feb. 2, 2023
  3. ""N.S. Groundhog Dodges Hiberation in Heated House", Novanet News Now, Feb. 2, 2007". Archived from the original on 2007-05-09. Retrieved 2010-02-03.
  4. Jacon Boon, "Shubenacadie sham!", The Coast, February 1, 2018
  5. Ian Fairclough, "No shadow of a doubt: Shubenacadie Sam pokes head into storm, predicts early spring" Chronicle Herald, February 2, 2021
  6. Raissa Tetanish, "Shubenacadie Sam gearing up for his big day", Truro Daily News, February 1, 2016
  7. Natalie Lombard, "Shubenacadie Sam sees shadow, predicts six more weeks of winter", CTV News Atlantic, Feb. 2, 2023
  8. "Nova Scotia’s groundhog Shubenacadie Sam sees shadow, predicts six more weeks of wintry weather", The Globe and Mail, Feb. 2, 2022
  9. Allan April, "Shubenacadie Sam calls for an early Spring", CTV News, February 2, 2021
  10. Lynn Curwin, "Shubenacadie Sam predicts another six weeks of winter", The Chronicle Herald, February 2, 2020
  11. "Keep your parkas handy. Shubenacadie Sam predicts long winter". CBC.ca. Retrieved 2019-02-02.
  12. "Shubenacadie Sam predicts early spring". HalifaxToday.ca. Retrieved 2018-02-02.
  13. Cassie Williams, "Shubenacadie Sam says it's going to be an early spring" ‘’CBC‘’ February 2, 2017
  14. "Shubenacadie Sam doesn't see shadow, predicts early spring" ‘’CBC‘’ February 2, 2016
  15. "Shubenacadie Sam predicts 6 more weeks of winter” ‘’CBC’’ February 2, 2015
  16. "Groundhog Day 2014: Wiarton Willie, Punxsutawney Phil, Shubenacadie Sam Make Their Forecasts” ‘’Huffington Post Canada’’ February 2, 2014
  17. "Groundhog Day predictions mixed for early spring", CBC News Feb. 2, 2014
  18. “Shubenacadie Sam sees shadow, says embrace winter” ‘’Chronicle Herald’’ Truro Bureau, February 2, 2013
  19. “Groundhog Day 2012: Wiarton Willie, Shubenacadie Sam predict early spring; Punxsutawney Phil calls for more winter” ‘’National Post’’, February 2, 2012
  20. ""Shubenacadie Sam Does Not See Shadow", Ducks Unlimited, Feb. 2, 2011". Archived from the original on 2014-02-20. Retrieved 2014-02-03.
  21. “Shubenacadie Sam sees shadow”, ‘ ‘Chronicle Herald Live’ ‘, February 2, 2010
  22. "No surprises as Wiarton Willy and pals predict more winter". London Free Press (London, ON). February 2, 2009.
  23. “No shadow for Wiarton Willie, Shubenacadie Sam - early end to Canadian winter” Feb. 2, 2008
  24. “Groundhogs Sam, Willie and Phil say spring is near” ‘ ‘CTV News’ ‘ February 2, 2007
  25. "Shubie Sam says no more winter”, CBC News, Feb. 2, 2006
  26. "Groundhog Day 2018: Mixed signals and a near escape", CBC News, February 2, 2018
  27. "Six more weeks of winter: Cape Breton's Two Rivers Tunnel makes annual Groundhog Day prediction" Saltwite News, Feb. 2, 2022
  28. Tina Comeau, "Lucy the Lobster does not see her shadow on Groundhog Day morning in a new South Shore N.S. twist on an old tradition", Yarmouth County Vanguard, February 2, 2018
  29. Tom Ayers, "Shubenacadie Sam unlikely to see his shadow", Chronicle Herald, January 31, 2018a
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