Fred la marmotte

Fred la marmotte (found dead February 2, 2023) was a groundhog located in Val-d'Espoir near Percé, Quebec, whose behaviour was used to predict weather on Groundhog Day.[1]

Fred la marmotte in 2020.

According to the tradition of Groundhog Day, if the enlisted groundhog sees its shadow, then spring will be delayed; if it does not see its shadow, then spring will be early.[2]

Fred was the only groundhog located on a World Heritage Site to be used for Groundhog Day weather prediction.[3] The original Fred, "Gros Fred", was engaged from 2010 to 2017 and again in 2019; his son "Petit Fred" stood in for the 2018 event.[4]

Fred was found dead on February 2, 2023, coincidentally on Groundhog Day.[5]

Past predictions
2011"Late spring"[6]
2010"Late spring"[7]
2012"Late spring"[8]
2016"Late spring"[9]
2017"Early spring"[10]
2018"Early spring"[11]
2019"Late spring"[2]
2020"Early spring"[12]
2021"Early spring"[13]
2022"Late spring"[14]

See also

References
  1. "Gaspésie: la marmotte Fred prédit un printemps tardif". Le Journal de Québec (in French). February 2, 2019.
  2. "Groundhog Day: Quebec's Fred la marmotte predicts a late spring". Montreal Gazette. February 2, 2019.
  3. "Fred, marmotte de l'Unesco". Chaleurs Nouvelles (in French). January 11, 2019.
  4. "Fred, la marmotte gaspésienne, prédit un printemps tardif". Le Soleil (in French). February 2, 2019.
  5. Wilton, Katherine (February 2, 2023). "Quebec's beloved Fred la Marmotte dies on Groundhog Day". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
  6. "La marmotte du Québec prévoit un hiver plus long". La Presse (in French). February 2, 2011.
  7. "L'hiver risque d'être long, foi de Fred la marmotte". La Presse (in French). February 2, 2010.
  8. "Quebec's forecasting groundhog expects more winter". CBC News Montreal. February 2, 2012.
  9. "La marmotte gaspésienne Fred prédit un printemps hâtif". Journal du Québec (in French). February 2, 2016.
  10. "Live update from Groundhog Day: Quebec's Fred la marmotte predicts an early spring". Montreal Gazette. February 2, 2017.
  11. "Spring is on the way according to Quebec's Fred la marmotte". CBC News Montreal. February 2, 2018.
  12. "Q&A: Fred la Marmotte on love, rivalry and the burden of Groundhog Day". Montreal Gazette. February 2, 2020.
  13. "Q&A: Canada's weather-predicting groundhogs call for early spring". CTV News. February 2, 2021.
  14. "Q&A: Montreal weather, Groundhog Day: Fred la marmotte predicts 6 more weeks of winter". Montreal Gazette. February 2, 2022.
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