Wednesday, Feb. 09, 2011

Mortimer says end of winter is near

Mayor Ronnie Williams joined the town's furriest meteorologist last week for Garner's second Groundhog Day celebration.

More than 500 people descended on the Nature Center at White Deer Park to catch a glimpse of Mortimer, the ceremonial groundhog, and other creatures on hand for the event, including birds, rodents and reptiles.

Mortimer's weather forecast was the main draw, but the animal-rescue group CLAWS brought along some of Mortimer's friends to promote the nature center.

"This center brings the focus on animals and nature," Williams said. "An event like this just seemed like the appropriate thing to do."

Park manager Stephanie Shaffer said she hoped those who attended the celebration would sign up for some of the nature center's classes, which include beginning bird watching, the life cycles of animals, insect investigation and soil sleuths.

"It's really neat to have an opportunity to see and touch these animals up close," Shaffer said. "This has been a great day."

Kindra Mammone, executive director of CLAWS, said Mortimer enjoyed it too. "He didn't put on any weight all winter," she told a group of moms as their children fed Mortimer handfuls of almonds and bananas. "He'll probably be three pounds heavier after this."

After touching and feeling a prairie dog, skunk, snake and a couple of owls, the mass of mostly children filed outside the cedar cabin to hear Mortimer forecast the coming climate. As noon approached, they assembled on the damp earth in front of the mayor's podium.

First, Mammone explained the Groundhog Day tradition to the crowd. Legend has it that if a groundhog sees his shadow on Feb. 2, he will be frightened and jump back into his burrow for six more weeks of winter. No shadow means spring is nigh.

"Do we want a shadow or no shadow?" Mammone asked.

"No shadow!" the young audience shouted.

The mayor, in tuxedo and top hat, then stepped to the mike.

As the sun peered through the pines, Williams told the crowd that Mortimer doesn't use his shadow to forecast the weather. "Even though Mortimer won't predict the way some of the more historic groundhogs do, he has good instincts," Williams said. "You see, Mortimer is still a groundhog, and they have a gut feeling about this sort of thing."

Shaffer then held the 7-pound rodent near enough to Williams to whisper a prediction in the mayor's ear.

"Mortimer the groundhog has little to say," Williams said. "But Mortimer thinks that winter is done. ... So out of his house and ready to sing, Mortimer predicts we'll see an early spring."

Just up the road, Mortimer's kin saw it differently.

At nearly the same moment, Sir Walter Wally saw his shadow in downtown Raleigh, foretelling six more weeks of winter.

So what are Triangle residents to do? Put those heavy coats back in the closet, Mayor Williams said.

"The groundhogs differed last year too, and ours was right," the mayor said. "We are confident he won't let us down this year."

Staff Writer Matt Ehlers contributed to this report.