WINNIPEG — An untimely death has cast a shadow over this year's Groundhog Day festivities in Winnipeg.Winnipeg Willow, the Prairie Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre's resident prognosticator, died on Friday.
As a result, Tuesday's planned Groundhog Day events have been cancelled.
Willow, who was five when she died, came to the centre in 2010 after her mother was killed by a dog.
The centre intended to release her back into the wild, but she broke her leg and after healing, had become too attached to the staff to survive on her own.
Staff said in a Facebook posting that they had "tears coming down our face" and were in "complete shock and sadness."
“She was acting her normal self (Friday) morning and eating a carrot but came in this evening to find her gone,” staff wrote.
The centre incorporated her into their educational programs, taking her to visit schools around the province.
“She had her moments, especially around February 2nd where she could get a bit grumpy but otherwise loved to go out,” staff wrote. “Life expectancy of woodchucks range from 4 to 6 years, so we hoped she lived her full time and was loved every minute of her life.”
Last year, Willow predicted there would be an early spring. Based on her behaviour this year, staff said she likely would have predicted another one this year.
