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Fact-forward news for readers like you who want to know more. Subscribe today. Well, that depends on the time of the year. In the summer months he is much larger because he eats more. In the winter he is smaller. The range is anywhere between 17 pounds. What does he eat? He gets a steady diet of veggies. His tastes change much as humans do. For a time he will really enjoy carrots then a month later he might now want them at all. A few things that seem to remain consistent is kale, sweet potatoes, corn on the cob, and bananas Does he eat fruit?
He enjoys bananas and apples. Does Phil go to the Vet? Each year he gets a physical and check-up. Are you allowed to pet Phil? No, unfortunately, you cannot. He is a wild animal and the only ones that are permitted to touch him are his handlers.
How sharp are his teeth? Well, he has two teeth on the top and two teeth on the bottle. They are VERY sharp. He does bite. The handlers were specific animal handling gloves with a pair of chain mil gloves that butchers wear underneath. Has Phil ever lost a tooth? His dentist examined it and saw that it had a cavity.
This was due to his favorite treat of honey and oat granola bars that have sugar in them. Read more about the ancient Celtic calendar here. The celebration of Imbolc signaled that the Sun was halfway through its advance towards the spring equinox, and the season of new birth and light was on the horizon.
This day has also been called St. Although it is distinct from Imbolc, the Christian festival of light Candlemas is also observed at this time of year February 2. The name refers to the candles lit that day in churches, which celebrate the presentation of the Christ Child in the temple of Jerusalem. Groundhog Day has a rich history based on a deeper meaning; it speaks to the triumph of spring over winter—and birth over death. Again, note the appearance of light over dark with the appearance of candles and dawn—and, of course, the spiritual light of a holier presence.
So how does the groundhog fit into this ancient festival? In the s, German immigrants to Pennsylvania brought their Candlemas legends with them. Finding no badgers but lots of groundhogs also called woodchucks or whistlepigs , they adapted the New World species to fit the lore.
Today, that lore has grown into fun winter festivals, with Punxsutawney Phil and furry fellows in other states presiding. Since the traditional celebration anticipated the planting of crops, a central focus of the festivities was the forecasting of either an early spring or a lingering winter. Our Groundhog Day is a remote survivor of that belief.
Want to see more accurate planting dates? Check out our Planting Calendar to find dates for starting seeds, transplanting, and harvesting in your area. If Candlemas [February 2] be mild and gay, Go saddle your horses and buy them hay; But if Candlemas be stormy and black, It carries the winter away on its back. The groundhog, also known as a woodchuck or whistlepig, typically makes its home in the brambles and thickets that grow where forests meet fields.
There, it digs burrows between 4 and 6 feet deep and up to 40 feet long—removing as much as pounds of dirt in the process. Like its squirrel relatives, the groundhog eats leaves, grass, flowers, bark, and twigs and climbs trees to reach tender buds or fruit. This furry animal will also go after just about any crop, favoring beans, peas, and carrot tops.
It may even take a bite out of every squash or pumpkin in a row, instead of consuming just one. See how to deter groundhogs in the garden. But the mischief-maker is not all nuisance. Its burrows allow air and water to penetrate the soil and, when abandoned, they become homes for opossums and other small animals. Phil doesn't have the best track record , but that hasn't stopped this quirky tradition.
Last year, Phil predicted a rare early spring. You can also check out every past prediction here. Groundhog Day explained: Origins of wacky tradition, why sunny weather means more winter.
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