Shubenacadie Sam

Shubenacadie Sam is a famous 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 heralded by a bagpiper and town crier and draws an early-morning festive crowd of families and visitors.

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.[2] Shubenacadie Sam most recently predicted an late winter at his appearance in February 2019.[3] Four ground hogs have served as "Shubenacadie Sam" since the practice began in Nova Scotia, as groundhogs usually live 10 years in captivity. The current Sam was born in 2006.[4] Park employee Carole Custance has been the caretaker for Shubenacadie Sam and the park's groundhogs for almost 17 years. She provides breakfast for the groundhog, usually yogurt and melon. Custance also reads to the groundhog who has been designated an advocate for Family Literacy Day. Shubenacadie Sam usually draws around 200 spectators for his prediction.[5].

Past predictions
2020 "Long Winter"[6]
2019 "Long Winter"[7]
2018 "Early Spring"[8]
2017"Early Spring"[9]
2016"Early Spring"[10]
2015“Long Winter"[11]
2014“Early Spring"[12][13]
2013“Long winter"[14]
2012"Early spring"[15]
2011"Early spring"[16]
2010"Long winter"[17]
2009"Long winter"[18]
2008"Early Spring"[19]
2007"Early spring"[20]
2006"Early Spring"[21]

Controversy

In 2018, Sam bit the finger of CBC reporter Brent Ruskin when the reporter grabbed the groundhog to stop Sam from climbing out of the groundhog enclosure.[22]

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. The most famous Canadian is Wiarton Willie. 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 awaken for its prediction just after 11 am instead of 8 am. Shubenacadie Sam's prediction, like all weather-predicting-ground hogs, 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 Phill and 25% for Wiarton Willy.[23] Other Canadian groundhogs include "Brandon Bob" of Brandon, Manitoba, and "Gary the Groundhog" in Kleinburg, Ontario. Promoters of a lobster festival in Barrington Passage, Nova Scotia created a "Lucy the Lobster" ritual for the first time in 2018 with a lobster that crawls from the water to a lobster trap on Groundhog Day.[24]

See also

Notes
  1. "Shubenacadie Sam to Make Annual Prediction" Nova Scotia Government Dept. of Natural Resources Press Release Jan. 28, 2010
  2. ""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.
  3. "Keep your parkas handy. Shubenacadie Sam predicts long winter". CBC.ca. Retrieved 2019-02-02.
  4. Jacon Boon, "Shubenacadie sham!", The Coast, February 1, 2018
  5. Raissa Tetanish, "Shubenacadie Sam gearing up for his big day", Truro Daily News, February 1, 2016
  6. Lynn Curwin, "Shubenacadie Sam predicts another six weeks of winter", The Chronicle Herald, February 2, 2020
  7. "Keep your parkas handy. Shubenacadie Sam predicts long winter". CBC.ca. Retrieved 2019-02-02.
  8. "Shubenacadie Sam predicts early spring". HalifaxToday.ca. Retrieved 2018-02-02.
  9. Cassie Williams, "Shubenacadie Sam says it's going to be an early spring" ‘’CBC‘’ February 2, 2017
  10. "Shubenacadie Sam doesn't see shadow, predicts early spring" ‘’CBC‘’ February 2, 2016
  11. "Shubenacadie Sam predicts 6 more weeks of winter” ‘’CBC’’ February 2, 2015
  12. "Groundhog Day 2014: Wiarton Willie, Punxsutawney Phil, Shubenacadie Sam Make Their Forecasts” ‘’Huffington Post Canada’’ February 2, 2014
  13. "Groundhog Day predictions mixed for early spring", CBC News Feb. 2, 2014
  14. “Shubenacadie Sam sees shadow, says embrace winter” ‘’Chronicle Herald’’ Truro Bureau, February 2, 2013
  15. “Groundhog Day 2012: Wiarton Willie, Shubenacadie Sam predict early spring; Punxsutawney Phil calls for more winter” ‘’National Post’’, February 2, 2012
  16. ""Shubenacadie Sam Does Not See Shadow", Ducks Unlimited, Feb. 2, 2011". Archived from the original on 2014-02-20. Retrieved 2014-02-03.
  17. “Shubenacadie Sam sees shadow”, ‘ ‘Chronicle Herald Live’ ‘, February 2, 2010
  18. "No surprises as Wiarton Willy and pals predict more winter". London Free Press (London, ON). February 2, 2009.
  19. “No shadow for Wiarton Willie, Shubenacadie Sam - early end to Canadian winter” Feb. 2, 2008
  20. “Groundhogs Sam, Willie and Phil say spring is near” ‘ ‘CTV News’ ‘ February 2, 2007
  21. "Shubie Sam says no more winter”, CBC News, Feb. 2, 2006
  22. "Groundhog Day 2018: Mixed signals and a near escape", CBC News, February 2, 2018
  23. Tom Ayers, "Shubenacadie Sam unlikely to see his shadow", Chronicle Herald, January 31, 2018a
  24. 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
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