Wiarton Willie dead, to be replaced by brown groundhog for annual festival in February | The Canadian News

WIARTON, Ontario. – The alleged weather forecast, the groundhog Wiarton Willie, has died.

Rumors of Willie’s death have swirled since Groundhog Day after a video was released showing the mayor of Wiarton, Ontario, tossing a fur hat and making the prediction without the animal.

A town spokeswoman now says Willie died of a tooth abscess more than nine months ago.

South Bruce Peninsula Mayor Janice Jackson says the famous white marmot will be replaced by a brown one for the annual festival in February.

Wiarton Willie fictitiously predicts whether or not there will be six more weeks of winter each February, depending on whether he “sees” his shadow.

There was no in-person festival last year due to the pandemic, which is why the video was released, but next year’s events in early February 2022 will take place in person.