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Staten Island Chuck: furry forecaster who doesn't groundhog the spotlight Staten Island Chuck: furry forecaster who doesn't groundhog the spotlight
(about 7 hours later)
Charles G Hogg – or Staten Island Chuck, as he is more commonly known – has been dealt a tough hand. Not only is he occasionally afraid of his own shadow, he has spent his life living in the shadow of a far more revered rival, one who, thanks to Hollywood, is famous around the world: a groundhog called Punxsutawney Phil.Charles G Hogg – or Staten Island Chuck, as he is more commonly known – has been dealt a tough hand. Not only is he occasionally afraid of his own shadow, he has spent his life living in the shadow of a far more revered rival, one who, thanks to Hollywood, is famous around the world: a groundhog called Punxsutawney Phil.
Yes, Chuck is America's other weather-predicting groundhog. On Thursday – groundhog day – Phil will be closely watched across the country when he comes out to issue his meteorological verdict in the Pennsylvania town that gave him his name. Chuck, meanwhile, will be playing to a much smaller audience when he does likewise at his home in Staten Island Zoo.Yes, Chuck is America's other weather-predicting groundhog. On Thursday – groundhog day – Phil will be closely watched across the country when he comes out to issue his meteorological verdict in the Pennsylvania town that gave him his name. Chuck, meanwhile, will be playing to a much smaller audience when he does likewise at his home in Staten Island Zoo.
If he sees his shadow and scurries back inside in fright, this means six more weeks of winter; if he doesn't, we can expect an early spring.If he sees his shadow and scurries back inside in fright, this means six more weeks of winter; if he doesn't, we can expect an early spring.
The raw statistics make for hard reading for Chuck. While Phil has more than 2300 followers on Twitter, Chuck had a mere 16 at time of writing. And Phil even made an appearance on Oprah a few years ago, on the back of his star status in the movie Groundhog Day.The raw statistics make for hard reading for Chuck. While Phil has more than 2300 followers on Twitter, Chuck had a mere 16 at time of writing. And Phil even made an appearance on Oprah a few years ago, on the back of his star status in the movie Groundhog Day.
Despite all this, Chuck does have a fan following. He has more than 3,000 friends on Facebook and is also New York's "only genuine groundhog" according to the zoo (they are quick to point out that some other zoos use prairie dogs as stand-ins for groundhogs).Despite all this, Chuck does have a fan following. He has more than 3,000 friends on Facebook and is also New York's "only genuine groundhog" according to the zoo (they are quick to point out that some other zoos use prairie dogs as stand-ins for groundhogs).
In a bid to elevate Chuck to his rightful place in the pantheon of great weather rodents, the Guardian travelled to the zoo on Wednesday for a rare and exclusive interview.In a bid to elevate Chuck to his rightful place in the pantheon of great weather rodents, the Guardian travelled to the zoo on Wednesday for a rare and exclusive interview.
Fed on a diet of dandelions, sweet potatoes and corn, the 10lb groundhog has been residing in a wooden hut built especially so that he can rest and relax in an environment deserving of a creature of his import.Fed on a diet of dandelions, sweet potatoes and corn, the 10lb groundhog has been residing in a wooden hut built especially so that he can rest and relax in an environment deserving of a creature of his import.
For his interview, Chuck had been transferred to a hay filled pen in the reptile area, where he spent much of his time scrounging about, perhaps in search of his toys.For his interview, Chuck had been transferred to a hay filled pen in the reptile area, where he spent much of his time scrounging about, perhaps in search of his toys.
"He little has soft dog toys he loves," explained handler Douglas Schwartz, who kept Chuck in his own home so he could feed him with a bottle when he was a baby. "He throws them up in the air and balances them on his belly. He's certainly in a lot of ways like a little puppy; he has a lot of those puppy mannerisms.""He little has soft dog toys he loves," explained handler Douglas Schwartz, who kept Chuck in his own home so he could feed him with a bottle when he was a baby. "He throws them up in the air and balances them on his belly. He's certainly in a lot of ways like a little puppy; he has a lot of those puppy mannerisms."
Chuck was due to spent the rest of the day indoors, staying warm and resting in anticipation of his big day tomorrow. "He's a media hog," says Kenneth Mitchell, the zoo's executive director.Chuck was due to spent the rest of the day indoors, staying warm and resting in anticipation of his big day tomorrow. "He's a media hog," says Kenneth Mitchell, the zoo's executive director.
Thursday's event will no doubt be closely watched by many, not just because the furry forecaster has proven to be a highly skilled meteorologist, but also because mayor Michael Bloomberg will be in attendance.Thursday's event will no doubt be closely watched by many, not just because the furry forecaster has proven to be a highly skilled meteorologist, but also because mayor Michael Bloomberg will be in attendance.
Chuck is reputed to maintain a rather strained relationship with Bloomberg, having bitten the mayor on the hand in 2009.Chuck is reputed to maintain a rather strained relationship with Bloomberg, having bitten the mayor on the hand in 2009.
However Mitchell insists that this is water under the bridge. "That was a misunderstanding," he says. "They have an excellent relationship, they're friends."However Mitchell insists that this is water under the bridge. "That was a misunderstanding," he says. "They have an excellent relationship, they're friends."
Mitchell describes Chuck as "usually affable", although the groundhog's grunts of protestation when carried indicate that that this description might be slightly magnanimous.Mitchell describes Chuck as "usually affable", although the groundhog's grunts of protestation when carried indicate that that this description might be slightly magnanimous.
Groundhog day stems from the belief that hibernating creatures were able to predict the arrival of springtime by their emergence. German immigrants brought the tradition to the US in the 18th century.Groundhog day stems from the belief that hibernating creatures were able to predict the arrival of springtime by their emergence. German immigrants brought the tradition to the US in the 18th century.
The accuracy of Chuck's prediction tomorrow will be determined by how many days are atypical for the winter season. The zoo says that if the temperature is above 40F it is considered atypical or warm, and hence Chuck's prognostication is assessed against whether the majority of days are warm or cold.The accuracy of Chuck's prediction tomorrow will be determined by how many days are atypical for the winter season. The zoo says that if the temperature is above 40F it is considered atypical or warm, and hence Chuck's prognostication is assessed against whether the majority of days are warm or cold.
"He's been right 24 out of the last 30 times," says Mitchell. "We're reasonably sure that Chuck's going to be correct again this time.""He's been right 24 out of the last 30 times," says Mitchell. "We're reasonably sure that Chuck's going to be correct again this time."
Take that Phil. Take that, Phil.