Groundhog Day 2023 results: Lady Edwina, Stonewall Jackson, Staten Island Chuck join Punx Phil in making weather predictions

Groundhog Day 2023 has arrived, with all eyes focused on Punxsutawney Phil — the world’s most famous weather-predicting groundhog — as he awakened from his wintry sleep in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, early Thursday morning.

Punx Phil saw his shadow, so, according to folklore, that means we have to endure another six weeks of winter. But he wasn’t the only furry critter who tried to predict the weather.

Here’s a look at several groundhogs from New Jersey and New York who ventured outside to search for their shadows Thursday morning.

Lady Edwina, the resident groundhog at the Turtle Back Zoo in Essex County, gets a snack from animal keeper John Kleoudis after she predicted six more weeks of winter at the zoo in West Orange, N.J., Feb. 2, 2023. Ed Murray | NJ Advance Media for

Did Lady Edwina of Essex see her shadow?

Lady Edwina of Essex County made her second appearance on Groundhog Day 2023, after taking over the role from Essex Ed, the beloved groundhog at the Turtle Back Zoo in West Orange who made predictions for several years.

When she emerged outside Thursday morning, Lady Edwina saw her shadow — just like Punx Phil — predicting six more weeks of winter.

Edwina also made a prediction for the Super Bowl game that will take place on Sunday, Feb. 12 — picking the Philadelphia Eagles over the Kansas City Chiefs.

Did Stonewall Jackson of Sussex see his shadow?

A Sussex County groundhog named Stonewall Jackson VI ventured outside at the Space Farms Zoo & Museum in Wantage early Thursday morning and did not see his shadow, according to his handler, Parker Space. Folklore says this is a sign that spring will arrive early this year.

Space, a state Assemblyman and volunteer firefighter, said this was the fourth year of weather predictions for this groundhog, which had five predecessors, all named Stonewall Jackson.

A New Jersey groundhog named Stonewall Jackson VI did not see his shadow on Groundhog Day 2023. Folklore says that means spring will arrive early. The groundhog is pictured here with his handler, state Assemblyman Parker Space of Sussex County.Caitlin Space

Did Staten Island Chuck see his shadow?

Staten Island Chuck — also known as Charles G. Hogg — emerged from his sleeping spot Thursday morning at the Staten Island Zoo to weigh in on whether we will have a long winter or an early spring. Just like New Jersey’s Stonewall Jackson VI, Chuck did not see his shadow, indicating an early spring.

Staten Island Chuck predicted an early spring when he emerged outside Thursday morning, Feb. 2, 2023. (Staten island Advance | Jan Somma-Hammel)

Did Holtsville Hal see his shadow?

Holtsville Hal is a Long Island, New York, groundhog who makes his prediction every year at the Brookhaven Wildlife and Ecology Center in Holtsville, New York. On Thursday morning, Hal saw his shadow, according to a report by the Long Island Press. That signals six more weeks of winter.

Did Malverne Mel see his shadow?

Malverne Mel, another groundhog from Long Island, also made his weather prediction Thursday morning at the Crossroads Farm in Malverne. And unlike his forecasting buddy from Holtsville, Malverne Mel did not see his shadow, indicating an early spring, the Long Island Press reported.

Lady Edwina, the resident groundhog at the Turtle Back Zoo in Essex County, has a snack after she predicted six more weeks of winter at the zoo in West Orange, N.J., Feb. 2, 2023. Ed Murray | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Did Milltown Mel see his shadow?

Another groundhog named Mel, from New Jersey, passed away before last year’s Groundhog Day ceremony in Milltown. The event organizers found a replacement for this year. But, they ran into a legal snag and, for the second straight year, they had to cancel their traditional ceremony.

The event organizers could not be reached for comment about what happened with Milltown Mel’s replacement. The organizers previously said a state statute prevented them from using a new groundhog for this year’s ceremony.

A spokeswoman for the state Department of Environmental Protection said the state regulates the possession of wild animals and noted, “groundhogs are carriers of rabies and in many instances they carry a variant of rabies not present in New Jersey.”

The spokeswoman, Caryn Shinske, said the DEP’s Fish & Wildlife division “strictly regulates wildlife brought into New Jersey from outside the state, and there must be proof the animal was not taken from the wild. New Jersey additionally requires pre-approval for the importation of wildlife.”

“At this time, NJ DEP Fish & Wildlife has no application for pre-approval for importation of a groundhog from Milltown,” Shinske said in an email to NJ Advance Media.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription.

Len Melisurgo may be reached at LMelisurgo@njadvancemedia.com.

Have a news tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips.

If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation.