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Elsewhere in the Groundhog Day world, Wiarton Willie and Shubenacadie Sam both also predicted an early spring. Punxsutawney Phil in Pennsylvania saw his shadow and predicted there is still plenty of winter to go. Peggy Jenkins, left, and Heaven Jenkins hold the season prediction crew, Sheldon and Harvey, at Heaven’s Wildlife Rescue Centre in Lambton County. On Groundhog Day, the forecasting groundhog at the centre takes on the stage name of Oil Springs Ollie. (Paul Morden, The Observer) Photo by Paul Morden /The Observer
Traditionally, Jenkins and Ollie announce their prediction at a school event when Groundhog Day falls on a weekday, or a community event held somewhere in Lambton, when it’s on the weekend.
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Oil Springs Ollie had good news just after sunrise on Tuesday.
The season-predicting groundhog at Heaven’s Wildlife Rescue Centre in Lambton County didn’t see his shadow. An early spring should be on the way, said Peggy Jenkins, founder of the centre that takes in injured and orphaned animals, cares for them and releases them back into the wild.
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“Let’s hope, with all the bad news,” she added.
Ollie, or Sheldon as he’s known at the centre, couldn’t be returned to nature after arriving years ago so became one of its educational animals, appearing with Jenkins and volunteers when they visit schools and make public presentations.