Woody Predicts Early Spring in Michigan

HOWELL, Mich. (WJBK) - Today is Groundhog Day, and competing marmots aren't seeing eye-to-eye.

Woody, Michigan's official groundhog, came out of her house for 30-plus seconds at the Howell Nature Center, predicting an early spring. Meanwhile, Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow in Pennsylvania, pointing towards six more weeks of winter.

Officials at the nature center say Woody has been correct in her predictions 9 out of 13 times, including last year when she saw her shadow and crawled back into her den.

The Groundhog Day celebration is rooted in a German superstition that says if a hibernating animal casts a shadow on Feb. 2, the Christian holiday of Candlemas, winter will last another six weeks. If no shadow is seen, legend says, spring will come early.

Online: www.howellnaturecenter.org

- The Associated Press contributed to this story