Olesya the groundhog from the Limpopo Zoo in Nizhny Novgorod predicted winter weather for at least another six weeks. Olesya rushed back into her enclosure shortly after she was released, dashing the zoo’s hopes for meteorological prognostication.
“Today is Groundhog Day. According to a popular folk tradition in America, a groundhog’s shadow or lack thereof and whether or not it returns to its burrow can predict the arrival of spring. We decided to follow suit and ask Olesya. Since she was reluctant to leave her shelter, winter weather is likely to continue for at least another six weeks,” said the zoo’s press secretary Maria Kalinina.
Animal specialists tried to entice the groundhog out of her enclosure, offering her vegetables and nuts, but she quickly returned to her burrow after a few brief outings.The zoo also attempted to predict the onset of spring last year. However, groundhogs generally did not emerge from hibernation because of severe frosts.