Given the Friday morning fog that enveloped his Commonage Road home, it含羞草研究社檚 a wonder Okanagan Okie could see anything.

And he didn含羞草研究社檛.

Greater Vernon含羞草研究社檚 prognosticating stuffed rodent meteorologist emerged from its royal green blanket courtesy of Vernon Mayor Victor Cumming at the Allan Brooks Nature Centre on 含羞草研究社� naturally 含羞草研究社� Groundhog Day to predict a quick demise to winter.

含羞草研究社淥h joy. I do not see a shadow of me,含羞草研究社� said Okie through his interpreter, Mayor Cumming, Friday morning, Feb. 2. 含羞草研究社淪o let us celebrate an early spring.含羞草研究社�

Cumming was quick to point out to the crowd of close to 100 that at the second annual Groundhog Day celebration at the nature centre in 2023, Okanagan Okie also failed to see his shadow.

含羞草研究社淩emember how cold it was last year? It (early spring) didn含羞草研究社檛 come. I feel for Okie, down one on that one,含羞草研究社� said Cumming, toque-less and minus several layers of clothing from his speech in 2023.

含羞草研究社淕roundhog Day is a reminder that just like life, we can含羞草研究社檛 always predict what含羞草研究社檚 coming around the corner. But we can face it with a sense of humour and community spirit.含羞草研究社�

Vernon Monashee MLA Harwinder Sandhu 含羞草研究社� dressed in stylish heel shoes, pointed out deftly by event emcee Rebecca Barton of Beach Radio 含羞草研究社� said Groundhog Day is not just about predicting the weather.

含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 celebrating nature含羞草研究社檚 cycle and the testament of her deep connection with the environment and a reminder to the resilience of life as we eagerly await the verdict of our furry meteorologist,含羞草研究社� said Sandhu.

Nature centre manager Cheryl Hood explained to the crowd there were a few reasons why a stuffed yellow-bellied marmot serves as a weather predictor.

含羞草研究社淲e含羞草研究社檙e not a nature park where we have the facilities or abilities to ensure we keep the animals healthy and safe in the environment,含羞草研究社� said Hood.

含羞草研究社淭he other issue is that the yellow-bellied marmot is a wild animal and, for us, wild animals should stay wild and we love having people come up here and enjoying them in their natural environment.

含羞草研究社淚f we disturb their hibernation and sleep pattern, they don含羞草研究社檛 live as long as the ones in the wild. So for health and safety we use Okanagan Okie as our stuffed meteorologist.含羞草研究社�

The Allan Brooks Nature Centre will open for its 2024 season on Saturday, April 20, with staff and volunteers planning a number of special events for opening day.

The centre will celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2025. The Allan Brooks Nature Centre opened July 1, 2000.