Binghamton Celebrates Groundhog Day

2/2/2013 (Updated 10:55:19 PM)

BINGHAMTON -- On Groundhog Day, there are many groundhogs across the country used to predict the weather: the famous Punxsutawney Phil in Pennsylvania, Staten Island Chuck in New York, and Sir Walter Wally in Raleigh, North Carolina.

"Groundhogs are neat little animals, they've got a lot of personality," said Dave Orndorff, General Curator of the Ross Park Zoo.

So why doesn't the Binghamton Zoo have a groundhog of its own?

"As soon as they see you they scurry into the woods or bushes.  So for the most part, they're hiding.  And we want to focus on animals that people can really see and enjoy," said Orndorff.

Instead of a groundhog, zoo officials suggest we use a red panda named Giau Giau.

"He's quite personable and has done a few predictions for us in the past," said Orndorff.

And he hopes that it becomes a Binghamton tradition.

"I think it'd be nice to give the Binghamton Zoo something to be known for an a red panda predicting the weather.  If he's right, we got a winner," said Orndorff.

The zoo staff say that because Giau Giau chose to eat grapes over apples, that means we're in for an early spring.

Or does it?

"You can interpret what it does to whatever you want it to appear," said Orndorff.

Samantha McDonald, Fox 40 HD News.

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