Devendra Kumar
Punxsutawney Phil’s human handlers announced on Mother’s Day that the two kits born to Phil and his partner, Phyllis, have been named Sunny and Shadow. Sunny is a female, and Shadow is a male. The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club Inner Circle chose the names after receiving hundreds of suggestions from the public. The final decision was made after a one-on-one meeting between Phil and the club’s president, Tom Dunkel.
These new additions to the family won’t be replacing Phil anytime soon. In fact, according to Dan McGinley, vice president of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club Inner Circle, “These kits of his are not replacements, they’re not the heir apparent.” McGinley explained that Sunny and Shadow will not be involved in the prediction ceremony, and there can only be one Punxsutawney Phil.
The club received a vast number of name suggestions for the pups, and they finally decided on Sunny and Shadow after careful consideration. The babies were discovered in March by a club member who was feeding Phil and Phyllis fruit and vegetables. The groundhog family resides in a climate-controlled burrow at the local library.
Each spring, Phil makes a prediction about the length of the remaining winter, and this year was no exception. According to tradition, if Phil sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of cold. However, this year, Phil did not see his shadow, predicting an early spring instead. The babies’ arrival adds a new level of excitement and joy to the annual Groundhog Day celebration.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Sunny and Shadow to the family,” McGinley said in a statement. The club announced the pups’ names in a video posted on social media, with Mr. McGinley reading from a scroll announcing the names of the “born-to- royalty” kits. The arrival of Sunny and Shadow marks an important milestone for Phil and Phyllis, as they start a new chapter in their family life. With both parents busy with their new additions, it’s likely that the prediction ceremony will continue to be a family affair.