In March 2024, Punxsutawney Phil and Phyllis welcomed their baby groundhogs or kits. The following month, the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club shared that the kits were named Sunny and Shadow and were already growing and developing fur.

When it comes to Groundhog Day, Pennsylvania’s legendary Punxsutawney Phil isn’t the only rodent that makes predictions about whether we will have a long winter or an early spring. New Jersey has a few of its own furry forecasters,

NOAA set a few ground rules. The groundhogs and "alternative groundhogs" must have been prognosticating for at least 20 years and must also have been active as of Feb. 2, 2024. The competitors included 13 groundhogs, three taxidermied groundhogs, one never-seen creature presumed to be a groundhog, a prairie dog statue and a tortoise.