French Creek Freddie to Appear for Groundhog Day in West Virginia

There are many different famous critters around the United States that make an official prognostication on Groundhog Day. If you live in West Virginia, then there is only one place to go to get your prediction for the region. That is up at the West Virginia Wildlife Center, where French Creek Freddie is the official "Groundhog Day" groundhog for West Virginia.

This will be the 30th year he will awaken from his slumber to see if he can see his shadow. French Creek Freddie lives at that West Virginia Wildlife Center, located in Upshur County in the northeastern part of West Virginia. The West Virginia Wildlife Center is a zoological facility with many different wildlife exhibits. There is also a 1.25 mile interpretive wildlife trail that is wheelchair accessible.

The center is located about 12 miles south of Buckhannon on SR 20. From the north, take exit 99 off I-79 and take SR 33 east approximately 12 miles to Buckhannon, then south on SR 20. Coming from the south, take exit 67 off I-79 at Flatwoods. Follow SR 19 and 4 north about 30 miles to Rock Cave and Route 20, then follow SR 20 north for 2 miles to the center. Visiting the Wildlife Center is a convenient side trip for travelers on I-79.

According West Virginia Wildlife Center website, Freddie usually needs to be awoken from his mid-winter hibernation by a staff member to make his appearance. Groundhogs are dormant during the winter months and are more than happy to sleep through the cold days of winter, nice and bundled up in their borough.

Each year hundreds of visitors come to the wildlife center for the official ceremony. The affair is a considerably toned down version of the goings on up in Punxsutawney.

The forecast is calling for mostly cloudy skies at around 10 am when the little rascal is due to be awoken and make his yearly appearance. A wet and wintry storm system will slowly be exiting the region, as an area of high pressure makes its approach. If the sun happens to peep out from behind the clouds for a brief period, and he spots his shadow, then there will be six more weeks of winter! Bundle up!