Shubenacadie Sam facts for kids

Shubenacadie Sam greets admirers after her 2024 prediction.

Shubenacadie Sam is a famous Canadian groundhog. He lives at the Shubenacadie Wildlife Park in Shubenacadie, Nova Scotia. Every year on February 2, which is Groundhog Day, Sam makes a special prediction. People watch his shadow closely at 8:00 AM AST. This tradition helps guess if spring will arrive early. Because Nova Scotia is in the Atlantic Time Zone, Sam is the first groundhog in North America to make his prediction each year.

Many families and visitors come to the wildlife park early in the morning for the prediction ceremony. Sometimes, a groundhog mascot, a bagpiper, and a town crier join the fun. The wildlife park is usually only open on weekends during winter. But for Groundhog Day, it opens especially for this yearly event. In 2024, Shubenacadie Sam predicted an early spring.

History of Shubenacadie Sam

Subenacadie Sam and mascot make the winter prediction, 2024

Groundhog Day traditions in Nova Scotia started with German immigrants. They arrived in the 1750s and settled near Lunenburg. There, the day was called "Daks Day." This name came from the German word dachs, which means badger. People believed badgers could predict spring on February 2.

The Shubenacadie Sam tradition at the wildlife park began around 1987. It is different from most other famous groundhogs. Sam is not woken up from his winter sleep for Groundhog Day. Since the tradition started, four different groundhogs have been "Shubenacadie Sam." Groundhogs usually live for 10 to 15 years in zoos or parks. In 2021, a 7-year-old female groundhog named "Samantha" took over the prediction duties.

Park employees have cared for Shubenacadie Sam and other groundhogs for over 20 years. They give the groundhog breakfast, often yogurt and melon. Staff also read to the groundhog. Sam has even become an advocate for Family Literacy Day. In 2022, Shubenacadie Sam inspired a children's book. Pages from this book are shown around the park. This gives visitors a special groundhog tour. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021 and 2022, the ceremony was held online. But live gatherings started again in 2023.

A Small Incident with Sam

In 2018, there was a small incident with Sam. He nipped the finger of a CBC reporter named Brett Ruskin. The reporter was trying to keep Sam from climbing out of his enclosure.

Shubenacadie Sam's Predictions

Shubenacadie Sam's predictions, like those from other groundhogs, are not always accurate. They are based on local conditions, not real weather patterns. This is according to Meteorologist Cindy Day.

Cindy Day says that Shubenacadie Sam is about 45% accurate. This is better than some other famous groundhogs. For example, Punxsutawney Phil is about 39% accurate. Wiarton Willie is about 25% accurate.

Other Famous Groundhogs

Shubenacadie Sam makes the first prediction each year. But he is one of many towns in North America known for their winter-predicting groundhogs. The most famous groundhog is Punxsutawney Phil. He lives in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, in the United States.

The most famous Canadian groundhog is Wiarton Willie. He lives in Ontario, Canada. Sam also shares the Nova Scotia prediction with "Two Rivers Tunnel." This groundhog lives in Cape Breton. "Two Rivers Tunnel" makes its prediction just after 11 AM.

Some places have other animal predictors too. In Barrington Passage, Nova Scotia, people started a "Lucy the Lobster" ritual in 2018. On Groundhog Day, a lobster crawls from the water to a lobster trap to make a prediction.