Did Canada's Groundhog Day Groundhog freeze to death? Sudden death of Quebec's Fred la marmotte.

[Botany]

Sudden death of Quebec's Fred la marmotte casts a shadow on Groundhog Day

Fred la marmotte, the province's famous furry oracle in Val-d'Espoir, Que., was found dead overnight Thursday, hours before he was able to predict whether it would be an early or late spring.

The organizer of Thursday's Groundhog Day event in Val-d'Espoir announced the sombre news following some 40 minutes of festivities, including music and dancing.

"In life, the only thing that's certain is that nothing is certain," said a serious Roberto Blondin in front of a crowd of awaiting spectators.

"Well, this year it's true. It's true and it's unfortunate. I announce to you the death of Fred."

Blondin said he found the lifeless animal overnight when he tried to wake him. He said he had "no vital signs" and figures Fred passed away in late fall or early December, during hibernation, at the age of nine years old.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/fred-la-marmotte-dies-1.6734368

[Docreed2003]

1. That's gotta be a bad omen right?

I'm thinking that's a bad omen

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

11. Not a bad omen. He simply didn't see his shadow. Winter will end soon.

If that happened to the groundhog in PA, we would never know. They probably have a spare or two in cages under the stage, just in case.

Poor rodent. I wonder if there's a necropsy in its future.

[GGoss]

2. Um... Are They SURE He's Dead ???

Blondin said he found the lifeless animal overnight when he tried to wake him. He said he had "no vital signs" and figures Fred passed away in late fall or early December, during hibernation, at the age of nine years old.

[Botany]

4. Fred was an old groundhog.

"The longevity of a groundhog's life span solely depends on its environment. Wild groundhogs only live about 3 - 6 years while those in captivity amazingly have been been reported to live anywhere from 9 - 14 years."

Read More: 5 Things You Didn’t Know About Groundhogs | https://nj1015.com/5-things-you-didnt-know-about-groundhogs/?utm_source=tsmclip&utm_medium=referral

[GGoss]

5. Thanks... But That Makes Me Wonder...

How many animals that hibernate, tend to die during hibernation?

Is this common? And how would we survey such a thing?

[roamer65]

10. Captive ones don't have to contend with cars or coyotes.

[Liberal In Texas]

3. Good heavens, how many more weeks does that portend?

It is a pretty stupid tradition.

[48656c6c6f20]

6. Oh no! It means Celine Dion is going to sing for 6 more years!

[Cracklin Charlie]

7. Covid shot?

Sorry, too soon.

RIP, Fred.

[Botany]

8. or was it .22 shot?

n/t

[yorkster]

9. There must always be a spare. Just give him the same name

and don't tell the children. Reality will rear its ugly head soon enough. Tell them after Easter and maybe they'll
think he's frolicking around in le ciel des marmottes.

Adieu Freddie