the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Groundhog Day has been a beloved tradition in the United States since February 2, 1886, when the first official celebration took place in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Over the years, the tradition has expanded beyond Punxsutawney Phil, with groundhogs, tortoises, and even statues across the country predicting the arrival of spring.
But which of these furry (and not-so-furry) forecasters is actually the most accurate? In a post Groundhog Day wrap-up based on 20 years of data (2005–2024) comparing their predictions to actual March temperature averages, the National Weather Service ranked the top weather-predicting groundhogs in America.
The Top 3 Most Accurate Groundhogs in the U.S.
🥇 1st Place: Staten Island Chuck – 85% Accuracy
✅ Location: Staten Island Zoo, New York
✅ Fun Fact: Also known as Charles G. Hogg, Chuck once bit the Mayor of New York City!
🥈 2nd Place: General Beauregard Lee – 80% Accuracy
✅ Location: Dauset Trails Nature Center, Georgia
✅ Fun Fact: This Southern groundhog lives in a mansion called Weathering Heights.
🥉 3rd Place: Lander Lil – 75% Accuracy
✅ Location: Lander, Wyoming
✅ Fun Fact: Lander Lil is not a groundhog, but a bronze statue of a prairie dog!
Full Groundhog Accuracy Rankings (2005–2024)
| Rank | Name | Species | State | Accuracy (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🥇 1 | Staten Island Chuck | Groundhog | NY | 85% |
| 🥈 2 | General Beauregard Lee | Groundhog | GA | 80% |
| 🥉 3 | Lander Lil | Prairie Dog Statue | WY | 75% |
| 4 | Concord Charlie | Never Seen (presumed groundhog) | WV | 65% |
| 5 | Gertie the Groundhog | Groundhog | IL | 65% |
| 6 | Jimmy the Groundhog | Groundhog | WI | 60% |
| 7 | Woodstock Willie | Groundhog | IL | 60% |
| 8 | Buckeye Chuck | Groundhog | OH | 55% |
| 9 | French Creek Freddie | Groundhog | WV | 55% |
| 10 | Malverne Mel | Groundhog | NY | 55% |
| 11 | Octoraro Orphie | Groundhog | PA | 52.63% |
| 12 | Dunkirk Dave | Groundhog | NY | 50% |
| 13 | Holtsville Hal | Groundhog | NY | 50% |
| 14 | Poor Richard | Taxidermied Groundhog | PA | 50% |
| 15 | Uni the Groundhog | Taxidermied Groundhog | PA | 47.37% |
| 16 | Schnogadahl Sammi | Taxidermied Groundhog | PA | 38.89% |
| 17 | Punxsutawney Phil | Groundhog | PA | 35% |
| 18 | Woodie the Woodchuck | Groundhog | MI | 35% |
| 19 | Mojave Max | Tortoise | NV | 25% |
Honorable Mention: Punxsutawney Phil
Although Punxsutawney Phil only has a 35% accuracy rate, he remains the most famous weather predictor in the U.S. Phil has been forecasting the arrival of spring since 1887! According to legend, he owes his long lifespan to the mysterious “groundhog nog” fed to him each fall at Punxsutawney’s annual Groundhog Picnic.
How Do Groundhogs Predict the Weather?
Each year on February 2, groundhogs emerge from their burrows:
☀️ If they see their shadow → Six more weeks of winter
☁️ If they don’t see their shadow → Spring will arrive early
While scientists rely on the National Weather Service for real long-term weather forecasts, Groundhog Day remains a fun and cherished tradition for many Americans.
Celebrate Groundhog Day with These Fun Facts!
✔️ The first official Groundhog Day celebration took place in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, in 1886.
✔️ There are now over 19 active weather-predicting groundhogs in the U.S.
✔️ Not all forecasters are groundhogs—some are tortoises, statues, and even taxidermied critters!
✔️ One-third of New Jersey residents live within half a mile of a warehouse—wait, wrong fact! 😆 But yes, warehouses and groundhogs both make big impacts in their environments.
🐾 Who’s your favorite weather-predicting critter? Let us know in the comments! 🐾
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