While the rest of the world celebrates February 2 as Groundhog Day every year, we in the beautiful Sea to Sky have more a deserving rodent to admire.
On this second day of the second month of 2023, The Watershed would like to proclaim our own noble Whistler as the superior weather-watching rodent of note.
The Whistler, also known as the Hoary Marmot, is the largest of the North American ground-squirrels, and can weigh as much as fifteen pounds after a successful summer bacchanal. The average groundhog clocks in at a mere ten or so pounds, has a distinct overbite, and worse, is apparently afraid of his own shadow.
By contrast, the benevolent Whistler not only ignores winter entirely (by mostly sleeping through it), but melodically announces his preference for snow, or sunshine or whatever the weather may bring that day. After an enthusiastic forage, he has been known to engage in the occasional wrestle, but is most fond of basking on a sunny rock, watching the hikers go by, and occasionally whistling his approval.
And just look at that handsome profile! No weaselly groundhog can even compete.
Please join The Watershed in our quest to proclaim the noble Whistler a more deserving candidate for celebration each February.
I don't know. Maybe 'Hoary Marmot Day' isn't as catchy. But at least if he has news to share, he whistles it. That's got to count for something!
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