Tinicum Tim Makes His Prediction | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Groundhog Day Celebration at John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum

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Six more weeks of winter or early spring? Tinicum Tim, the cute yet incredibly inaccurate weather prognosticator, made a special appearance at John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum for the 16^th annual Groundhog Day Celebration.

But Tim’s cameo wasn’t the only thing worth seeing at the refuge.

Groundhog Day Festivities

Man wearing stuffed groundhog hat stands outdoors on a gravelly road and points at a tree. — Larry Stier points out a hawk in a tree as he leads a Groundhog Day nature walk at John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum's Groundhog Day Celebration. Photo credit: *Jalyn Williams/USFWS*

Man wearing a stuffed groundhog hat points at a groundhog burrow. — Larry Stier points out a groundhog burrow on a nature walk during John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum's Groundhog Day Celebration. Photo credit: *Jalyn Williams/USFWS*

The day began with a history of Groundhog Day and nature walk around the refuge, led by Larry Stier, a member of the Friends of Heinz Refuge endearingly called Mr. Groundhog by those who saw his Groundhog Day hat. He explained that the groundhog (also called whistle pig or woodchuck, an adaptation of the Lenape word for the same animal) is abundant at the refuge but hibernates due to low availability of food. He also shared that Groundhog Day is considered a cross-quarter day because it falls between the Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox, similar to May Day and Halloween.

Adults and children gather to look at wildlife exhibits. — Visitors to John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum's Groundhog Day Celebration gather in the Visitor Center for soft pretzels and activities. Photo credit: *Jeff Linden/USFWS*

Children standing at a table doing arts and crafts. — Visitors make groundhog puppets out of brown paper bags at John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum's Groundhog Day Celebration. Photo credit: *Jeff Linden/USFWS*

A series of childish drawings of ducks photographed through a window. — A display of past submissions to and an invitation to participate in the Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design Program at John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum's Groundhog Day Celebration. Photo credit: *Jalyn Williams/USFWS*

After the walk, visitors enjoyed a variety of volunteer-run, interactive activities within the Visitor Center. Some were educational, teaching how animals stay warm during the chilly months. Some were just for fun, allowing people to explore their creativity as they made groundhog paper-bag puppets and took “Happy Groundhog Day” selfies. There was also a face-painting station, an invitation to participate in the Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design Program, and soft pretzels galore. Attendees were delighted by the Philadelphia Metro Wildlife Center’s exhibit of live animals that could not be released to the wild, including an opossum and wood turtle.

The big reveal

Two men, one holding a guitar, sing next to a blue goose mascot. — Larry Stier leads visitors in song to encourage the groundhog to emerge from his burrow and make a prediction at John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum's Groundhog Day Celebration. Photo credit: *Jeff Linden/USFWS*

At noon, visitors gathered outside the Visitor Center to participate in a sing-along to encourage Tinicum Tim to emerge from his burrow. Led by Mr. Groundhog, they sang “Wake up Little Timmy!” (to the rhythm of “Wake Up Little Susie” by the Everly Brothers). Mr. Groundhog, who is proficient in Groundhog-ese, translated for the crowd that Tim had indeed seen his shadow, ensuring six more weeks of winter.

Though the revelation was met with a very Philly groan by the crowd — “That’s why we came?” exclaimed Mr. Groundhog — they happily lulled Tim back to sleep with “The Groundhog Sleeps Tonight” (to the rhythm of “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” by The Tokens). Perhaps he’ll study up on his meteorology skills and deliver a more favorable prediction next year.

With their creative celebration of an often-overlooked holiday, staff at John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum delivered a conservation message with a healthy dose of whimsy.