Staten Island groundhog predicts early spring, say handlers

(2 Feb 2025) RESTRICTION SUMMARY: ASSOCIATED PRESS New York - 2 February 2025 1. SOUNDBITE (English) Cara Liander, Emcee “Spring is coming!” 2. Staten Island Chuck the groundhog in enclosure ++PARTLY COVERED++ 3. SOUNDBITE (English) James McKeon, Emcee “Well, there you have it, folks.” SOUNDBITE (English) Cara Liander, Emcee “Whether we get six more weeks of winter or an early spring like Chuck just said, just remember, the real prediction here is that we'll all be back here again next year doing that all over again because no one ever gets tired of a good weather mystery.” 4. SOUNDBITE (English) James McKeon, Emcee “We're here at the Staten Island Zoo celebrating the 44th Annual Groundhog Festival here where Staten Island Chuck, the most accurate groundhog across the nation, gave us another early spring.” 5. The Public School 29 chorus perform the song “Shadowphobia.” 6. Gathered crowd 7. Wide of Staten Island Chuck STORYLINE: The handlers for Staten Island Chuck say the groundhog has predicted an early spring. The annual event was held Sunday morning at the Staten Island Zoo, where temperatures were only 18 degrees Fahrenheit, making the prediction of an early spring an unexpected one. The woodchuck remained in its enclosure for the event. When the groundhog is deemed to have not seen his shadow, that is said to usher in an early spring. When he does see it, there will be six more weeks of winter. Staten Island Chuck's prediction contrasts with the more well-known Punxsutawney Phil, whose team of top-hatted associates declared on Sunday morning that he had seen his shadow, signaling six more weeks of wintry weather. The tradition dates back more than a century and has even older roots in European agricultural practices. The event’s date, February 2, not only marks the halfway point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox but also coincides with significant observances in the Celtic calendar and the Christian holiday of Candlemas. AP video shot by Ted Shaffrey =========================================================== Clients are reminded to adhere to all listed restrictions and to check the terms of their licence agreements. For further assistance, please contact the AP Archive on: Tel +44(0)2074827482 Email: [email protected]. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...