A RIVAL of Punxsutawney Phil’s was killed after being dropped by a “Butterfingers” mayor in front of a screaming crowd.
Groundhog Day star Phi made his much-anticipated prediction on Sunday to a raucous, record-sized crown at Gobbler’s Knob, Pennsylvania.
The all-seeing rodent was carefully cradled by his “inner circle” as he used his meteorological powers to reveal “six more weeks of winter” to come.
But not all groundhogs have been treated with such dignity – and there is a dark chapter in the tradition’s past.
Phil’s Staten Island rival died after tumbling from the grip of then-Mayor Bill “Butterfingers” de Blasio in 2014.
Jaw-dropping footage shows the furry forecaster squirm from the gloves of the 6’5″ giant, plummeting head-first towards the ground.
Screams of horror pour from the crowd as back-up handlers scrabble to catch hold of the hog.
With such a long way down, the Staten Island Chuck didn’t stand a chance.
The rodent was found dead in its enclosure just days later, having succumbed to its “acute internal injuries” – and the zoo tried to cover it up.
Keepers found the lifeless chuck on February 9 – just days after the ceremony – but told only a close inner circle about the loss.
Even then, they claimed that natural causes had put the hog in the ground.
The scandal deepened when it emerged the doomed hog had actually been a replacement called Charlotte.
The real Staten Chuck had been secretly swapped out after he famously nibbled on then-Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s hand at the 2009 ceremony.
Staten Island Zoo sources told the New York Post the decoy had been kept under-wraps to preserve the sacred “groundhog brand”.
“Butterfingers” de Blasio claimed ignorance, insisting at the time: “I found out as all of you found out – I had no idea previously.”
The following year Staten Island Zoo adapted its Groundhog Day procedure to rule-out further fatal fumbles.
“Butterfingers” de Blasio was made to observe the ceremony from a safe distance and behind a protective screen.
No Mayor has ever returned to perform the duty on the island.
Staten Island Chuck, known for his impressive 85 percent accuracy rate, is considered the most dependable groundhog in the country, as confirmed by data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Phil, on the other hand, languishes at 35 percent – rated third-worst of the 19 animals analysed.
Despite his dubious record, Phil remains the authority on predicting when winter will end.
His prophecy this year, communicated via one of his inner circle, went:
“It’s groundhog day, and maybe life is on a loop. But I miss my burrow and I miss my coop.
“So I’m headed back down, there’s a shadow up here. Get ready for six more weeks of winter this year.”
If Phil hadn’t spotted his shadow, then an early spring would have been forecast.
The tradition of the woodchuck’s weather prediction dates back over a century in western Pennsylvania and even further in European folklore.
Thanks to Bill Murray’s iconic Groundhog Day film in 1993, the event has evolved into a massive celebration, attracting thousands of spectators on-site and spawning imitations across the United States and in other parts of the world.
Groundhog league table
NOT all groundhogs are created equal, and some have more of a penchant for predictions that others.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has collected data on the key forecasting hogs in the country, and ranked them according to their accuracy.
Here is the list:
- Staten Island Chuck Groundhog, NY – 85%
- General Beauregard Lee Groundhog, GA – 80%
- Lander Lil Prairie Dog Statue, WY – 75%
- Concord Charlie Never Seen (presumed groundhog), WV – 65%
- Gertie the Groundhog Groundhog, IL – 65%
- Jimmy the Groundhog Groundhog, WI – 60%
- Woodstock Willie Groundhog, IL – 60%
- Buckeye Chuck Groundhog, OH – 55%
- French Creek Freddie Groundhog, WV – 55%
- Malverne Mel Groundhog, NY – 55%
- Octoraro Orphie Groundhog, PA – 52.63%
- Dunkirk Dave Groundhog, NY – 50
- Holtsville Hal Groundhog, NY – 50%
- Poor Richard Taxidermied Groundhog, PA – 50%
- Uni the Groundhog Taxidermied Groundhog, PA – 47.37%
- Schnogadahl Sammi Taxidermied Groundhog, PA – 38.89%
- Punxsatawney Phil Groundhog, PA – 35%
- Woodie the Woodchuck Groundhog, MI – 35%
- Mojave Max Tortoise, NV – 25%
