Woody breaks the prognosticating groundhog gender barrier

(Howell, MI-AP) January 29, 2007 - Woody has something the nation's other prognosticating groundhogs don't.

Female intuition.

General Beauregard Lee in Georgia, Sir Walter Wally in North Carolina and, of course, Punxsutawney Phil in Pennsylvania might be more established, but Woody from Howell, Michigan, has a pretty good track record.

She has correctly predicted when spring would arrive six out of eight years.

Why is she so successful? The executive director of the Howell Conference and Nature Center - Richard Grant - tells the Detroit Free Press that Woody relieves on her stomach.

Grant said groundhogs eat a lot before the winter, but don't consume much during the colder months.

So, on Friday, if Woody comes out of her home, eats any of the food placed in front of her - such as bananas and peanuts - and stays out for at least 30 seconds, then spring is coming soon. If not, we're in for another six weeks of winter.

Grant says science proves that Woody's sex is an advantage - noting that female groundhogs have a lot more responsibility.

Others, however, are not convinced that gender plays a role.

John Griffiths is a member of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club's Inner Circle and one of Phil's co-handlers. In his words, "As far as we're concerned, there is only one true seer of seers."

Posted 7:53am by Bryce Mursch