Buckeye Chuck
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Buckeye Chuck is a groundhog at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History in Cleveland who predicts arrival of spring on Groundhog Day at an event in Marion, Ohio[1][2]. He is one of two groundhogs in Ohio known for predicting the arrival of spring. Chuck began predicting the arrival of spring in the 1970s.[3] and the Ohio General Assembly declared Buckeye Chuck the official State Groundhog in 1979.[4] He previously resided in Marion until June 2023 until being relocated, though the Groundhog Day forecast and event are still held in Marion, with Buckeye Chuck brought in from Cleveland.[5] From 2006 to 2015, Chuck's forecast was correct only twice.[6]
According to the legend of Groundhog Day, the groundhog's behavior is a way of forecasting the weather. If the groundhog pops out from its burrow, sees his shadow, and then disappears again, it will mean that winter is to continue for six more weeks. But if the groundhog does not see its shadow, then it will not be scared to come out of its burrow and winter will soon end.
| Year | Prediction |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Early spring[7] |
| 2025 | Early spring[8] |
| 2024 | Early spring[9] |
| 2023 | 6 more weeks of winter |
| 2022 | Early spring |
| 2021 | Early spring |
| 2020 | Early spring |
| 2019 | Early spring |
| 2018 | 6 more weeks of winter |
| 2017 | 6 more weeks of winter |
| 2016 | 6 more weeks of winter[10] |
| 2015 | Early spring[11] |
| 2014 | Early spring[12] |
| 2013 | Early spring[13] |
| 2012 | Early spring[14] |
| 2011 | Early spring[15] |
| 2010 | Early spring[16] |
| 2009 | 6 more weeks of winter[17] |
| 2008 | Early spring[6] |
| 2007 | Early spring[6] |
| 2006 | 6 more weeks of winter[6] |