Official State Groundhog Of Massachusetts Ms. G. Predicts An Early Spring at Drumlin Farm!

LINCOLN, MA. — Ms. G., the official Groundhog of the Commonwealth, emerged from her annual mid-winter slumber at Mass Audubon’s snow-covered Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary in Lincoln Tuesday morning—and did not see her shadow, predicting an early spring.

Drumlin Farm hosted its annual Climate Action Day/Groundhog Day event Tuesday at 10 am to an audience of virtual onlookers via Drumlin Farm’s Facebook page.

Mass Audubon President David O’Neill and Senior Regional Director Renata Pomponi co-hosted the event. O’Neill noted that as wildlife including groundhogs face growing impacts of a warming planet, everyone, especially young people, can engage in meaningful climate actions within in their families, schools, and communities.

Wildlife Care Technician Ellen Loftis then introduced Ms. G. and described her behavior, life cycle—and dining preferences (vegetables, of course!) The groundhog ambled about its enclosure, checking out stumps to climb and the aforementioned vegetables put out as her personal repast. No shadow followed her around.

Pomponi said Ms. G., while a playful and fun symbol of nature for children to connect with, represents the resilience of wildlife in the midst of our New England winter, and of the resolve of organizations like Mass Audubon that are working with the communities they serve to ensure a healthy climate for our future.

“The story of children taking action on behalf of their environment that brought Ms. G. her status as the state’s Official Groundhog inspires us all that, working together, we can make a difference in protecting the nature of Massachusetts for people and wildlife,” Pomponi added.

Ms. G was declared the Official State Groundhog by then-Governor Deval Patrick on July 31, 2014, when he signed the proposed bill submitted by Wellesley’s Hunnewell Elementary School students, enacting it into law.