(Image Credit: The Canadian Press)

By The Canadian Press

Prognosticating rodents

Groundhog Day 2026: Willie in Ontario, Fred in Quebec predict early spring’s arrival

Feb 2, 2026 | 9:27 AM

HALIFAX — Canada’s famous prognosticating rodents are predicting an early spring.

Wiarton Willie, in Bruce County, Ont., and Fred la Marmotte, the famous groundhog in Quebec’s Gaspésie region reportedly did not see their shadows this morning, which is good news for people tired of wintry weather.

According to legend, there will be six more weeks of winter if a groundhog sees their shadow, and an early spring if they don’t.

Fred in Quebec made his prediction after some singing and dancing at the early morning event in Val-d’Espoir, Que. After Fred was shown to the crowd and received kisses from his handler, he was taken to look for a shadow, and a child held up a sign that read “un printemps hâtif” — meaning an early spring.

South of the border, Punxsutawney Phil contradicted his northern counterparts — he is said to have seen his shadow, predicting six more weeks of winter weather

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One of Canada’s most famous groundhogs, Nova Scotia’s Shubenacadie Sam, did not go ahead with her typical prediction event due to a forecast that calls for yet another winter storm in her home province.

The Nova Scotia government announced the cancellation saying blowing snow could create unsafe driving conditions for people travelling to Sam’s home at Shubenacadie Wildlife Park, about 50 kilometres north of Halifax. The provincial government said because she will not see a shadow today, folklore calls for an early spring.

Environment Canada had winter storm and snowfall warnings for most of northern Nova Scotia and Cape Breton late Sunday, calling for up to 25 centimetres in some areas.

Last year, Canada’s famous prognosticating rodents were split over spring’s arrival.

The tradition has ties to medieval Europe, when farmers believed that if hedgehogs emerged from their burrows to catch insects, it was a sure sign of early spring.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 2, 2026.

— With files from The Associated Press.

The Canadian Press