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How many different groundhogs named Punxsutawney Phils have either seen or not seen their shadows?

Question #139173. Asked by Taltarzac.
Last updated May 14 2021.
Originally posted Feb 02 2015 8:32 AM.

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LBaggins star
Answer has 2 votes
LBaggins star
14 year member
129 replies avatar

Answer has 2 votes.
"According to the Stormfax.com site link http://www.stormfax.com/ghogday.htm, as of 2015 Punxsutawney Phil has made 119 predictions, with an early spring (no shadow) predicted 18 times (15.1%). The site states (without evidence or corroborative references) that as of 2015 the predictions have proved correct 39% of the time. This is significantly worse than chance (p = 0.008), and - if the accuracy figure is correct - suggests the traditional interpretation of Punxsutawney Phil's predictions should be reversed."

link https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punxsutawney_Phil#Past_predictions

Response last updated by CmdrK on May 14 2021.
Feb 02 2015, 12:16 PM
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looney_tunes star
Answer has 3 votes
Currently Best Answer
looney_tunes star
Moderator
19 year member
3290 replies avatar

Answer has 3 votes.

Currently voted the best answer.
"Punxsutawney Phil fans say that there is only one Phil, and that all the other groundhogs are impostors. It is claimed that Pete/Phil has made weather prognostications since 1887, making the Punxsutawney groundhog a legendary rather than factual figure, since groundhogs only live up to six years.[3] It is publicly unknown how many groundhogs have actively played Phil."

The Pete/Phil reference is to a name change after a reporter used Phil instead of the original Pete one year!

link https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punxsutawney_Phil

Feb 02 2015, 6:15 PM
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LBaggins star
Answer has 1 vote
LBaggins star
14 year member
129 replies avatar

Answer has 1 vote.
How many different Punxsatawney Phils there have been:
Apparently the number is a closely guarded secret, as the "Inner Circle", the group responsible for caring for Phil, claims there has only been one, for 129 years. I suppose it's meant to add to his mystique. It may be that not even they know!
link http://www.groundhog.org/about/about-groundhog-day/

Feb 21 2015, 12:32 PM
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