Two Animals Predict Spring

Punxsutawney Phil, the furry forecaster, predicted an early spring for 2019. Phil delivered the welcomed news by failing to see his shadow this morning.

If Phil sees cloudy skies, he will leave his burrow, signifying that winter will end soon. If sunshine prevails, the groundhog will become frightened by seeing his shadow and retreat to his burrow. Then winter drags on for six more weeks.
 
A German superstition says if a hibernating animal casts a shadow on Feb. 2, the Christian holiday of Candlemas, winter will last six more weeks.

The California counterpart of Punxsutawney Phil is a desert tortoise named Mojave Maxine. Her claim to season-predicting fame doesn't involve her shadow. Forty-one-year-old Maxine emerged from brumation (reptilian hibernation) on January 29 at 8:38 a.m.) 

Maxine's tenth year of prediction involved awakening and toddling out of her burrow. Her body knows when to sleep based on the outside temperatures and the change in daylight hours. 

At the Living Desert Animal Park in Palm Desert, visitors watched her trundle out.

Each year a contest is held for students to guess the date and time Maxine will make appearance of the year.







Student prediction contest:  http://www.livingdesert.org/mojave-maxine/

Hurrah for two early predictions of spring.