Milltown Mel, a groundhog who has for years offered his weather predictions on Groundhog Day, has died, his handlers say. They say Mel "recently crossed over the rainbow bridge" — and their A Kentucky groundhog died on Groundhog Day — just days after predicting an early spring.. Major, a nearly 10-year-old rodent meteorologist living at the Second Chances Wildlife Center The Second Chances Wildlife Center shared on social media that their beloved weather-predicting groundhog, Major, died on Groundhog Day. "Sadly, and most ironically, Major passed away peacefully Mel died just before Groundhog Day, leaving his community in central New Jersey "at a tough time of year, when most of his fellow groundhogs are hibernating." In a Facebook post, the wranglers A groundhog at a Kentucky wildlife rehabilitation center died on Groundhog Day, Friday, only a few days after predicting an early spring. Major the groundhog was 10 years old and lived at the Major the groundhog lived at Second Chances Wildlife Center in Bullitt County after he was rescued as a baby. Sadly, the center reports Major died overnight at 10 years old. Milltown Mel, one of New Jersey's weather-predicting groundhogs, died Sunday — just days before the big annual ceremony. His death was announced on the groundhog's official Facebook page. It The Groundhog Day event in Val-d'Espoir, Quebec in eastern Canada began Thursday morning with music and dancing, Blondin believes Fred died in hibernation late last year. New Jersey's beloved weather-predicting groundhog — Milltown Mel — has died. The animal prognosticator passed away on Sunday, days before he was supposed to make his annual Groundhog Day Milton Mel has been giving his predictions since 2009 when the town began its own Groundhog Day tradition. The Mel who passed away on Sunday was actually Mel 2.0, having replaced the OG Mel in 2015. The second Mel died just before Groundhog Day 2022. The state confiscated his replacement just a few months later. So yet another hollow Feb. 2nd will pass in Milltown without the glory of a A Groundhog Club handler holds Punxsutawney Phil, the weather-prognosticating groundhog, during the 133rd celebration of Groundhog Day on Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, on Feb. 2, 2019. Groundhog Day 2025: Will Punxsutawney Phil, Buckeye Chuck see their shadows? What to know If you trust any animal to give you an extended weather forecast, then you want to pay attention to what When is Groundhog Day 2025? Groundhog Day will take place Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025. Thousands will show up in person, with the grounds to Gobblers Knob opening at 4 a.m., and millions will tune in to see if Punxsutawney Phil will see his shadow. More: Where to watch Bill Murray's 1993 classic movie 'Groundhog Day' for Groundhog Day. What is New Jersey has long had its own groundhog - and celebrated its very own Groundhog Day. Like everything else, we went our own way! But back in 2021, that Jersey groundhog - Milltown Mel, um, well, died. It is now 2025 and ol' Mel is still dead. The problem is - there was no backup for Mel. No reserve groundhog, no backup groundhog. Groundhog Day has been celebrated in the United States since at least February 2, 1886. Starting in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, with its now-famous groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, the tradition spread throughout America. It is now celebrated all over, and not just with groundhogs. The 6’5” mayor was visiting the zoo for Groundhog Day on Feb. 2, 2014, when he ran into trouble wrangling the anxious rodent. Primary Menu Sections. The groundhog later died. RBC | I have an idea for the Meeker Chamber of Commerce: We could piggyback on the Pennsylvania Feb. 2 Groundhog Day hype by naming our groundhog as the one and only “Meeker Whistlepig” or the “Flattops Weather Marmot.” The Master of Ceremony would wear a Stetson and rope the varmint from under a stump Fans of Groundhog Day will be happy to know that its shining star, Punxsutawney Phil, has not died in 2022. Indeed, the famous animal emerged from his burrow on Feb. 2, 2022, and saw his shadow, predicting another extra six weeks of winter. The passing of Elsa, an African Pygmy Hedgehog, comes just three years after another popular rodent from New Jersey — groundhog Milltown Mel — died before his big day in the spotlight.
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