Happy Groundhog’s Day! 🙂 I’m not so sure what there is to be happy about as Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow earlier today. In spite of the fact that the east coast was suffering a good old fashioned blizzard so I question how any shadow of the woodchuck could have actually been viewed.

Living in Minnesota the prediction of six more weeks of winter is not alarming. In fact most of us Minnesotans would smile if we were guaranteed only six more weeks of winter.

The tradition of waking Punxsutawney Phil up each February 2nd must be very irritating to the little guy since it has been an elaborate ceremony for the last 120 years. I think the actual Woodchuck Phil has probably been switched out several times over that span of 120 years. 🙂

The internet told me that in the 120 years that this tradition has been going on Punxsutawney Phil has been right only 39% of the time. We are living in an age where “follow the science” is an absolute necessity. In that case I wonder if it isn’t time to change the test animal?

Maybe the woodchuck should be benched and get a replacement. Perhaps something like the Striped Skunk. That would certainly add excitement to the annual February 2nd ceremony.

Someone could make a few bucks hawking clothes pins for the noses during and after the ceremony. Gallon cans of tomato juice might be a hot item too. 🙂

Every year when Groundhog’s Day rolls around I am reminded of our families’ experience with Mr. Groundhog. I wrote about that experience when I was writing a children’s environmental column for the magazine “Minnesota Out Of Doors” and that same story appears in Volume Two of my three volume set of Children In The Outdoors.

So for your reading enjoyment I will share with you our experience with Mr. Groundhog. I hope you enjoy it even though we have no memory if we saw the groundhog’s shadow or not during that adventure.

THE SPRING VISTOR

The morning was still and cool. The lawn was wet with dew and decorated with clusters of yellow dandelions.

“Hey, something just ran up on our front step,” called Bonnie as she was preparing to take her last spoonful of breakfast cereal.

“It’s probably one of the cats,” replied Jill.

With her nose pressed against the window screen Bonnie said, “That’s no cat. It has a bushy tail, short legs and short ears.”

Steve was busily spreading jelly on his toast as he asked, “What color is it?”

“It’s dark brown,” replied Jill.

“And there are silver hairs on its back and head,” added Bonnie.

“It has the frosted look,” commented Steve as he moved to the window.

“Oh, oh, here comes Sam!” cried Bonnie.

Sam, the family dog, had spotted the bushy tailed animal and was about to chase the chubby visitor away.

As the dog approached, the large frosted animal turned and faced it. In anger the animal made a strange rattling noise, “Clackity-clackity-clackity!”

Sam stopped, backed up and began to bark.

“Clackity-clackity-clackity,” responded the animal.

The sound passed through the open window and Steve gasped, “That critter is chattering his teeth together to make that strange noise.”

“That chattering is doing the trick,” said Jill. “Sam doesn’t dare get too close.”

The barking and chattering continued for several minutes.

Suddenly the bushy-tailed critter saw an opening. It jumped off the step and bounded through the wet grass.

Sam was in hot pursuit. The dog was just ready to grab the speeding fur ball when it crawled under the old hunting car.

“It made it to Dad’s old car,” cried Bonnie.

“What kind of animal is it? asked Jill.

“It looks like a fat mink,” said Steve. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”

“I think it looks like a giant gopher,” added Bonnie.

For two hours Sam barked and circled the car.

“Dad and Mom won’t be home from the church meeting until late in the afternoon,” said Steve. “I think we should go out and help that critter escape from Sam.”

“Good idea!” cried the two girls.

As the three children approached the car Bonnie asked, “Where did the animal go?”

“I don’t see it either,” added Jill.

“I bet I know,” murmured Steve as he lifted the car hood.

“There it is!” gasped Jill.

“It’s sitting on the motor!” added Bonnie.

The wide eyed animal stared at the children.

Quickly Steve slammed the car hood down.

“What should we do?” asked Bonnie.

The three children were quiet for several minutes.

Suddenly Steve said, “I have an idea.”

“Let’s hear it,” replied Jill.

“We’ll keep Sam in the house,” said Steve. “I’ll drive the car into the tall grass by the driveway.”

“But Steve can’t drive the car,” cried Bonnie.

“Remember Dad let me drive in that pasture last hunting season,” reminded Steve.

“Won’t the motor hurt the animal?” questioned Jill.

“The animal is sitting far enough back on the motor,” replied Steve. “It should be safe during such a short trip.”

So the plan was carried out.

Every hour the children checked on the ‘motor-bound’ animal.

“Why doesn’t it move?” asked Bonnie

“Maybe it wants to live in a ‘motor home’,” grinned Steve.

“Not funny, Steve!” replied Jill.

When the children’s parents returned home the family went to see the animal.

That’s a young woodchuck,” said Dad.

“It’s also called a groundhog,” added Mom. “If it sees its shadow on February second there will be six more weeks of winter.”

“Is that true, Mom?” asked Bonnie.

“No, Bonnie,” replied Mom. “Groundhogs really can’t tell us when winter will end.”

“In fact groundhogs are in deep hibernation each February second,” said Dad.

“Why won’t this groundhog leave the car Dad?” asked Steve.

Looking closely at the woodchuck Dad said, “Steve, get in the car and turn the steering wheel gently.”

Steve did what his Dad said.

Suddenly the woodchuck moved off the motor and jumped to the ground.

“The woodchuck was pinned by the steering column,’ said Dad. “It must have gotten wedged under the column when Steve drove the car.”

“Nice driving, brother!” grinned Jill.

The woodchuck disappeared into the tall grass.

Steve, Jill and Bonnie cheered as their new friend returned to its home in the wild.

THE END

I’ve been asked many times over the years if the seventy three stories in the three set volume of Children In The Outdoors are all true or did I just make them up. Most of the stories come from the author’s imagination, however the groundhog story really did happen.

I had to make one major change however in retelling it. Actually our whole family was home at the time and I have to sheepishly admit I was the one who got the idea to move the car into the tall grass. So it was my fault the groundhog was trapped for hours pinned under the car’s steering column. Me bad! 🙂

Before ending this blog I should mention that the three volumes of Children In The Outdoors are still available by contacting me. The neat thing about each story is there is an activity page included to extend the learning begun in the story. Each story has its own built in set of lesson plans and I give you permission to make copies of the activity pages too if you decide to use them as teaching material.

I better end this record long blog! I think I will take a long walk in the outdoors and see if I can see my own shadow. My prediction is shadow or no shadow spring will arrive when it’s ready! 🙂

Until next time.