He could not have predicted it.
Canadian groundhog Fred La Marmot gave a Quebec crowd a real surprise Thursday when he was found dead before the annual weather forecasting ceremony.
Officials broke the sad news much to the shock of those gathered in Val-d’Espoir who were anxiously anticipating an early spring prediction from Fred.
“In life, the only thing certain is that nothing is certain,” said Roberto Blondin, organizer of the event on La Jour de Fred, or Fred’s Day.
“Well, this year it’s true. It’s the sad truth. I announce to you that Fred is dead.
Fred, 9, was found dead overnight, but authorities believe he may have died during hibernation several weeks before Groundhog Day.
Although a centuries-old North American tradition dictates that if a groundhog sees its show then winter will last six weeks or if the rodent cannot see its shadow then an early spring is on the horizon, the folktale does not state which Means dead Fred.
Quebec’s groundhog Fred La Marmotte was found dead hours before he was expected to make a winter prediction.
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Even the organizer Roberto Blondin celebrated without Fred.
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However, Quebec officials refused to allow the animal’s death to come in the way of tradition. Blondin gives a stuffed toy version of Fred to a child standing in the crowd to continue working.
The toy casts a shadow, indicating that “spring is delayed” for the Canadian province.
Blondin announced the annual event, which dates back to 2009, would continue the following year with Fred’s successor: Fred Jr., According to Global News.
Down in the US, Staten Island Chuck predicted spring is nigh for New York City, while Punxsutawney Phil delivered some bad news for Pennsylvania: six more weeks of winter.
post with wires
