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 Major died on Groundhog Day after a decade of predicting the weather. Groundhogs typically live to be 6 This past Groundhog Day was the first time Major had stepped out of the spotlight to 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 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 Fred la marmotte, Canada's Punxsutawney Phil, made his weather prediction every Groundhog Day, but Fred had "no vital signs" before this year's event. 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 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 New Jersey’s prognosticating rodent Milltown Mel saw the shadow of death — just before Groundhog Day. The famed groundhog died Sunday, according to a Facebook page dedicated to the popular marmot. 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. MILLTOWN, New Jersey (WABC) -- One of New Jersey's most beloved weather predicting groundhogs is dead, just days before Groundhog Day. According to a post on Milltown Mel's Facebook page, he 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. Every February 2, on Groundhog Day, Willie takes part in the local Wiarton Willie Festival. His role is to predict whether there will be an early spring. Although the original Wiarton Willie died in 1999, the Wiarton groundhog day celebrations continue each year with the original Willie's successors, referred to as "Wee Willie." 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 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. 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. Home of Punxsutawney Phil in the Weather Capital of the World. The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club invites to to celebrate Groundhog Day! Following the news of the groundhog’s death, people on social media have expressed their condolences, while noting that the timing may be a sign that a brutal winter is still yet to come. Originally, Groundhog Day was a Celtic festival marking the year’s first cross-quarter day, or a midpoint between seasons. Read more about the ancient Celtic calendar here. Celebrated at the beginning of February, the day was called Imbolc —a term from Old Irish that is most often translated as “in the belly”—a reference to the soon The 6’5” mayor was visiting the zoo for Groundhog Day on Feb. 2, 2014, when he ran into trouble wrangling the anxious rodent. The groundhog later died. the city’s groundhogs are safe Former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has spoken out about the tragic day he dropped Staten Island’s beloved groundhog on its head — 10 years later.
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