Clearly annoyed groundhog bites mayor's ear during celebration

(Image credit: YouTube.com/SonDakikaTube)

published 3 February 2015

It's all fun and games until Jimmy the Groundhog nearly bites off the mayor's ear.

After being roused early on Monday, Jimmy was paraded in front of the citizens of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, during the 67th annual Groundhog Day celebration. Mayor Jon Freund said he would "listen closely" as the groundhog "shared" his seasonal prediction, but Jimmy wasn't having it, and instead of imparting his wisdom decided to attack the mayor's ear. "He got his point across," Freund said. "He certainly has my ear."

Freund announced that Jimmy did not see his shadow, thus it would be an early spring. Jimmy's handler, Jerry Hahn, said that the mayor misunderstood — most likely because Jimmy took part of his hearing along with his ear — and the groundhog had actually seen his shadow, meaning there would be six more weeks of winter. There have been 11 Jimmy the Groundhogs, Madison.com reports, and this was the first — and quite possibly last — celebration for this particular Jimmy.—Catherine Garcia

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Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.

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