Groundhog Day 2017: Predictions from around the world

Groundhog Day 2017: Staten Island Chuck says early Spring

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Happy Groundhog Day! At approximately 7:30 this morning, Staten Island's furry prognosticator emerged from his home at the Staten Island Zoo to let everybody know we'll have an early spring.

Tradition says that if the groundhog doesn't see its shadow, spring is right around the corner. 

And Staten Island Chuck knows what he's talking about -- his record, according to the Zoo, is 80 percent.

But what about Chuck's rivals? Did they call for an early spring or six additional weeks of winter weather?

Punxsutawney Phil, Chuck's most notorious rival, usually disagrees with him -- and this year is no different. When Phil came out of his home in Punxsutawney, Pa., he saw his shadow -- predicting six more weeks of winter.

Check out the list below to see what Chuck's other rivals predicted: 

BALZAC BILLY

Another groundhog, Balzac Billy, hails from Balzac, Alberta, in Canada.

He awoke from his long hibernation at the Blue Grass Nursery and Garden Centre Thursday morning and saw his shadow -- predicting six more weeks of winter.

SHUBENCADIE SAM 

Shubenacadie Sam, a groundhog from Nova Scotia's Shubenacadie Wildlife Park, came out of his burrow and gave the prediction of an early spring.

BUCKEYE CHUCK

Buckeye Chuck of Ohio came out of his burrow and saw his shadow, meaning six more weeks of winter.

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Buckeye Chuck @OHBuckeyeChuck

Prognostication: Yikes, is that my shadow on the ground? Winter will hang around. #sixmore weeks of #winter#GroundhogDay

5:42 PM - 2 Feb 2017

 
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BIG AL 

While most states look to groundhogs for their seasonal weather forecast, everything is bigger in Texas -- including Big Al.

The 14-foot, 1,000-pound alligator makes perhaps the most scientifically-sound weather prediction of any animal every year using his favorite food -- Kentucky Fried Chicken. 

According to gator-rescuer and naturalist Gary Saurage, alligators are genetically unable to eat until all danger of winter's freeze has passed; their bodies cannot digest food until warm weather is assured. 

The science is simple. If Big Al eats his KFC, spring is on the way. 

This year Al passed on the chicken, predicting six more weeks of winter.

GENERAL BEAUREGARD LEE

When it comes to furry weather forecasters, few are more decorated than General Beauregard Lee of the Yellow River Game Ranch just outside Atlanta.

Beau predicted an early spring.

ESSEX ED

Last year when Essex Ed -- the groundhog at the Turtle Back Zoo in West Orange, N.J. -- overslept on Groundhog Day it was up to Otis the Hedgehog to fill in. 

According to county officials, an unusually warm December threw off Ed's hibernation schedule, causing him to oversleep. 

This year, Essex Ed woke up in time to predict six more weeks of winter.