Saskatchewan's Groundhog Day critter also 'predicts' Roughriders' season
Whelan Woody saw shadow, so 10 more weeks of winter, owner says
It's Groundhog Day and all eyes were on Saskatchewan's Whelan Woody for his annual winter prognostications — weather and football.
Woody, a woodchuck who lives in Shanno Lidster's home near Whelan Bay, saw his shadow on Thursday morning.
That means 10 more weeks of winter, Lidster says, noting in Saskatchewan it's more realistic to add another four weeks to the usual six week forecast.
Lidster, with tongue firmly in cheek, adds the rodent also sees good things coming for the Saskatchewan Roughriders, the CFL club that was struggling last season.
"This season he's heard that we're in for ... new beginnings," she said.
"We've got a new quarterback, we've got a lot of new players and he's very positive about this season. It's going to be new."
In his three years of prognostication, says Lidster, Woody has been accurate each year — at least when it comes to the weather.
As far as the Riders go, only time will tell.