As everyone knows, on Feb. 2 the nation finds out if winter will stretch on for six more weeks if Punxsutawney Phil, the legendary prognosticator, sees his shadow. Thousands flock to Gobbler’s Knob in the town of Punxsutawney in western Pennsylvania for the annual Groundhog Day ceremony.
But groundhogs aren’t native to Florida. So, we rely on our own local critters to forecast our weather.
Granted, there’s not always a lot of difference between a Florida winter and a Florida spring, but it’s the thought that counts.
Here are a few of the local alternatives coming Feb. 2.
Gator Day? Phil the Gator weighs in
“Move over, Punxsutawney Phil—here in Florida, we don’t have groundhogs, we have Phil the Alligator!” the Jackson County Facebook page says.
Phil’s prognosticating technique is simple. If he emerges from Lake Seminole and basks in the sun, it means an early spring. If he slides back into the water, it’s six more weeks of “winter.”
Other gators across the state also participate.
In 2025, Gatorland Orlando posted an update to show what their inhabitants were doing on Groundhog Day.
“Well we don’t have a Groundhog, but the Alligators are telling letting us know that spring has sprung,” the attraction posted on Facebook in February.
Ground Owl Day, Florida’s burrowing forecaster
On Feb. 2, 2026, the Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife will hold its 8th Annual Ground Owl Day to get weather advice from the city’s official bird, the burrowing owl.
Every year, the city looks to its burrowing owl mascot, to see if they see their shadow in a community event with the top-hatted mayor, local civic leaders and wildlife conservationists. This year the star attraction will be Athene, the CCFW mascot. Previous owl forecasters included Owlivia and Owliver.
Burrowing owls are considered threatened in Florida and are protected by city ordinance in Cape Coral.
It’s taking place at 10 a.m. at the Pelican Baseball Complex at 4128 Pelican Blvd. in Cape Coral. Admission is free.
Ground Conch Day? Why not
The Florida Keys do things differently.
So, it’s not surprising that the “Conch Republic” chose a sea snail for their weather forecasting.
Last year, all eyes were on a conch in a touch tank at Aquarium Encounters in Marathon to see if it would emerge from its shell and see its shadow. (It did.) It was accompanied by sea urchins wearing tiny top hats, because even the Keys have standards, and a local musician playing a song about the “mollusk meteorologist.”
“Our mollusk meteorologist saw its shadow and is predicting six more weeks of winter,” said president of the aquarium Ben Daughtry, according to WTSP. “But that’s okay, because here in the Florida Keys, all winter long, it’s 76 degrees.”
It’s happening again this year from 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. at Aquarium Encounters, 11710 Overseas Highway in Marathon. Admission is free and there will be live music, mimosas, and free snacks.
Other Florida Groundhog Day events
Hollywood, Florida doesn’t have its own Groundhog Day replacement, but it goes all on for the event anyway. This year marks 22 years of the city’s Annual Groundhog Day with a livestream of Punxsutawney Phil’s prediction, breakfast, and the traditional Groundhog Day Dip in the Atlantic Ocean.
It’s at the Blue Wave Argentinean Gastropub at 901 N. Broadwalk in Hollywood Beach, starting at 6:30 a.m. The $15 donations benefit the Hollywood Beach Lifeguard Competition Team and the Hollywood Lions Club.
What other animals are used to forecast the end of winter?
There are quite a few animal prognosticators around the country that are consulted for winter predictions, including:
There were, in fact, at least 78 weather-prognosticating critters across the U.S. last year, according to groundhog-day.com, and that’s not counting the conch.
When is Groundhog Day 2026?
Groundhog Day in the United States and Canada is held on Feb. 2 every year. In 2026, that lands on a Monday.
C. A. Bridges is a journalist for the USA TODAY Network-Florida’s service journalism Connect team. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday day by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY.
Cheryl McCloud, USA TODAY Network-Florida, contributed to this story.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Gators, owls and a conch, how Florida does Groundhog Day
Reporting by C. A. Bridges, Daytona Beach News-Journal / Fort Myers News-Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
