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‘A National Icon’: Wiarton Searches for New Albino Groundhog as Town’s Famous Rodent Resident Passes Away
- Town of South Bruce Peninsula announced Tuesday morning that Wiarton Willie, Ontario's well-known weather-prognosticating groundhog, died peacefully while sleeping.
- The Wiarton Willie Festival has run for 70 years, beginning as a bit of a joke in 1956, with this iteration carrying on the tradition for roughly three years after the 2023 appointment.
- On Feb. 2, 2026, Wiarton Willie predicted an early spring and did not see his shadow, while the town said he was a curious, charismatic groundhog who enjoyed basking and delighting visitors.
- The town will begin the search in the coming days for a new weather‑predicting groundhog to succeed Willie, who drew thousands and boosted the winter economy, Mayor Jay Kirkland said.
- Known beyond the region, Willie helped put Wiarton on the map and gained national and international recognition, the town said he did.
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RIP Wiarton Willie. Ontario's beloved groundhog dead a month after forecasting early spring
Wiarton Willie has died three years after becoming the latest woodchuck to carry on the Groundhog Day tradition begun in 1956 in the Ontario community. "Willie was a curious and charismatic groundhog who delighted both residents and visitors," the Town of South Bruce Peninsula said in announcing the sad news Tuesday.
·Canada
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Winnipeg Free Press+4 Reposted by 4 other sources
Ontario's famous groundhog Wiarton Willie has died, town says
Breaking News, Sports, Manitoba, Canada
·Winnipeg, Canada
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources22
Leaning Left13Leaning Right1Center5Last UpdatedBias Distribution69% Left
Bias Distribution
- 69% of the sources lean Left
69% Left
L 69%
C 26%
Factuality
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