Fred la Marmotte predicts an early spring for Quebec

The residents of Val-d’Espoir, Quebec were singing and dancing before dawn on Groundhog Day 2026, warming up for the arrival of famed Fred la Marmotte. It was a mild minus-5 C in the Gaspésie town, with light snow lowering chances that he’d see his shadow. Handler Roberto Blondin listened to Fred very carefully, asked several times if he was certain about predicting an early spring. Had Fred seen his shadow, he would have predicted six more weeks of winter. In 2023, a predecessor to the current Fred drew international headlines for being found dead on Groundhog Day. Video via Sid Lee