Kankakee Valley Post, Volume 2, Number 42, DeMotte, Jasper County, 2 March 1933 — Learned Man Derides Groundhog as Prophet [ARTICLE]

Learned Man Derides Groundhog as Prophet

The groundhog or woodchuck, like many another legendary figure has been debunked. After years of experiments with woodchucks and other hibernating animals the sum of conclusions of Dr. George E. Johnson of the zoology department of the Kansas State college, is that these animals are likely to wake up, yawn and perhaps step

out for a breath of fresh air any time before or after February 2, known as groundhog day. If a warm spell has driven the frost from the ground he is likely to go out for a little while. If not, he shakes himself, curls up again and goes back to sleep without probably bothering even to look for his shadow. All of which, says Doctor Johnson, makes him hardly a dependable weather prophet.