Wednesday, February 02, 2005

Important Groundhog Update

Apparently north Alabama has its own weather-predicting groundhog.

On the Birmingham tv news this morning, a woman appeared with “Smith Lake Jake”. He was wearing a colorful little bowler hat. I'm not much for hats on animals but it didn't seem to bother him.

Obviously there was no way that Jake could see his shadow on a rainy day like today.

But the woman insisted that since the hair on Jake’s tail was standing up, we’d have 6 more weeks of winter anyway.

She kept kissing the groundhog on the mouth though, so it’s possible that she wasn’t being too scientific about the whole thing.

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Edited March 7, 2007 to add: This will probably show up in rss feeds as a new post. It isn't. I'm editing to disallow future comments, since I believe that all the recent ones are actually from the same person. My intuition tells me that it's likely someone well acquainted with the groundhog in question, and if this is indeed the case, I'd like to encourage that person to start his or her own blog. Smith Lake Jake could try predicting all sorts of things besides the weather. The stock market, for example. The winner of the next NASCAR race. Who'll be voted out on American Idol. To my knowledge no one has even scratched the surface of non-weather-related groundhog prognostication.

29 comments:

Rurality said...

Animals do have heightened senses I think, I'm just not sure that weather predicting is one of them. :) But you never know.

A few years ago we had a small earthquake here in the middle of the night. Very very small... no damage at all in this area. But our budgie freaked out, flapping all around his cage in the dark.

Anonymous said...

My children ask me every day, how many more days to groundhogs day. They watch fox 6 morning, every year to see "Smith Lake Jake" the groundhog that wears a hat. We think it is really cool also. My children love that Groundhog. I think it is really nice for the groundhog to get a few kisses.It shows the lady is very careing.

Anonymous said...

I like to watch the Groundhog that wears a hat "Smith lake Jake". I am 81 years old ,and every Groundhogs day, I am right by the t.v. to see the hat wearing groundhog,Micky, and the blond . It is so funny, and it makes my day.

Anonymous said...

I really enjoy watching Smith Lake Jake on Ground Hog's Day with Mickey Ferguson and the peach queen. Keep them coming on.

Rurality said...

For unknown reasons, I've gotten 3 comments on this post in the past 24 hours, in November of 2006 -- 21 months after it was originally written. Color me surprised that demand for Smith Lake Jake information is apparently peaking, so far from Groundhog's Day.

So, for your further Marmota monax edification, click here for a picture of Smith Lake Jake. Enjoy!

(Or click here for non-hat-wearing groundhogs.)

Anonymous said...

I like the hat wearing groundhog myself. And did you know that "Smith lake Jake " was featured on the 2006 American Idol, with Taylor Hicks.I understand that Taylor was greeted by a big furry animal ( Smith Lake Jake)when he arrived in Birmingham.He smiled and through both hands around the Groundhog.The groundhog led off Taylors parade. That groundhog gets around. p.s. GROUNDHOGS DAY IS NOT THAT FOR OFF!

Anonymous said...

About 6 years ago I had a pet Groundhog that I raised as a baby, and believe it or not, it really could predict the weather. When it was going to rain or be bad weather, the hair on the Groundhogs tail would stand up like a porkiepine. So I dont doubt at all that the Peach Oueen can read his body language. If you raise one, you get to understand them. I never kissed MY GROUNDHOG, but each to his on. Oh ,and I LOVE the picture you have of " Smith Lake Jake ".

Rurality said...

No, I hadn't heard about Smith Lake Jake greeting Taylor Hicks. (I wonder if he greeted Ruben and Bo too?)

On the subject of groundhogs in general... I grew up never seeing one. Then there was a period where I saw them a lot. Now, not so much anymore. In all the gamecam pictures we've gotten, not one has been of a groundhog. But that's possibly because there are so many predators in the area.

Anonymous said...

I dont know about Rubin,but I did see "Smith Lake Jake" on fox 6 predicting that Bo could win if everybody would vote. He was wearing a hat that ,said GO GO !

Anonymous said...

We are doing a school paper on Groundhogs, why in november, I dont know . TEACHERS! GOT A LOVE UM! ANY HOW ,I love your picture of Smith lake Jake. and I"ve seen that groundhog around. I saw him at the potato festival this summer. It was a very tame Groundhog. My girlfriend and I petted him and he didn't seem to care. I was shocked to see that they are so friendly.But I am going to print your picture of Smith lake Jake, for my wright up about the Groundhog.

Anonymous said...

I saw Smith Lake Jake predicting for Bo Bice also. The Ground Hog was wearing a big top hat that said GO BO , not GO GO, But I believe he said Carry would win.

Anonymous said...

I saw Smith Lake Jake the Ground Hog, in a Christmas parade this year. He was wearing a Christmas stocking hat. His owner was holding him , and throwing stuffed Ground hogs, and other stuffed animals. The crowd was going crazy for that Ground hog. It was a really cut, and tame Ground hog.

Anonymous said...

Ruralty, maybe you'r mail got stuck in Internet space,and that is why you got comment's a year late. It happened to me. My sister sent me a birthady ecard on my birthday, and I got it a year later. And as for Frank's comment,he needs to learn how to spell before he hand's in a report on Groundhogs . And yes, Smith Lake Jake is a really cool Groundhog, and so is the Peach Queen. I also have seen them in a parade,and stuffed Groundhog's were being thrown, but I Wasn't fast enough to catch one.I also saw the groundhogs picture in the Birmingham new's a few times.The heading was, Groundhog "Smith Lake Jake" will forcast fot twinkies.And I watched the Groundhog on fox 6 with micky and Ginger{the Peach Queen}. It is really worth being late for work, to watch it.

Anonymous said...

I can't wait until Groundhog's day to see what " Smith Lake Jake" will give Micky this year. He gives Micky A Groundhog gift every year. They always have something to do with a fish. The fist year I don't think that Micky caught it. It was a candy fish, and micky said why a fish. Hellooooo. Fish, Smith Lake Jake. They go together. But all my family wait by the television to see Smith Lake Jake Micky and Ginger, and we laugh our heads off. I have to tape it for our grand children, and they play it all year round, until the tape wear's out.I wish fox 6 would make a tape of it, because we never know what time they will air it.

Anonymous said...

I am looking foreward to watching fox 6 this year With SMITH lAKE JAKE. I can't believe that Jake will predict 6 more weeks of bad weather, since the winter has been a mild one ,so for! Let's hope not. Anyway.I have yet to figure out how that groundhog wear's that hat on his head so well.He acts like it is a natural thing to wear a hat. Anyway we all love the show,and look foreward to seeing it again.

Anonymous said...

I HAVE SEEN SMITH LAKE JAKE MANY TIMES,I AM A FRIEND OF GINGER'S,AND I'LL BE WILLING TO BET YOU THAT SHE HASN'T READ THIS PAGE ABOUT HER AND SMITH LAKE JAKE .GINGER IS ABOUT AS CLOSE TO BEING A REAL LIFE ELLIE MAY AS THERE IS. ACTUALLY SHE EVEN WON THE DO DAY DAY COMPETITION ONE YEAR DRESSED AS ELLIE MAY, SHE WAS CARRING A REAL POSSUM WEARING A HAT IN THE PARADE. THEY WERE THE BEVERLY HILLBILLY'S AND OF COURSE GINGER WAS ELLIE MAY. SHE EVEN LOOKS LIKE HER. GINGER IS TRULY A PET LOVER. SHE WAS ON SEVERAL TALK SHOWS WITH HER CRITTERS AS SHE WOULD CALL THEM,AND THEY WERE ALL WEARING HATS.ONE OF THE SHOWS SHE WAS ON WAS THE QUEEN LATIFA SHOW.I SAW THAT ONE IT WAS REALLY CUTE.GINGER AND HER HUSBAND ARE REALLY NICE PEOPLE,AND IF YOU GOT A CHANCE TO KNOW THEM YOU WOULD REALLY LIKE THEM.THEY ARE ALWAYS ON SOME KIND OF SHOW WITH A CRITTER WEARING A HAT.

Anonymous said...

I WONDER If D? in the above comment is blind or think's every else is.He capolized every thing.But getting back to the Groundhog, I also have seen him at low's store in cullman. The groundhog was riding in a buggy with a couple of dogs, and the Groundhog was wearing a hat, real cute.

Anonymous said...

Charles shouldn't be talking about D?,because Charles can't spell. I read where Smith Lake Jake,was going to be predicting at the Birmingham Zoo, friday feb. 2th My children are very excited about seeing him. They can't wait to see what hat he will be wearing. I am not much for animal shows,but I have to say, that I am excited to see Smith Lake Jake as well.

Anonymous said...

I just read that Smith Lake Jake will be at the Birmingham Zoo feb 2, at 10; oclock. I am going for sure,I can't wait to see Smith Lake Jake in person .I can't wait to see the Groundhog that wears a hat.I am 10 years old and I live in Cullman.

Anonymous said...

I just read that Smith Lake Jake will be at the Birmingham Zoo feb 2, at 10; oclock. I am going for sure,I can't wait to see Smith Lake Jake in person .I can't wait to see the Groundhog that wears a hat.I am 10 years old and I live in Cullman.

Anonymous said...

I saw Smith lake Jake the groundhog on Suzukiman commercial's. It was very funny. It was on Suzukiman t.v. They show it every day. I also saw him with Mickey fergurson this Groundhog's Day.Ginger was trying to get the groundhog to smile.FUNNY STUFF!

Anonymous said...

Smith Lake Jake is in .SUZUKI Man's t.v. show about 5 times alread I saw it.it's funny,And also on top news they said, the 2 most famous groundhog's in the world, is PONSITONI PHILL and SMITH LAKE JAKE. GO ALABAMA GO!

Anonymous said...

I watched Fox 6 on Groundhog's Day, with Smith Lake Jake.He was wearing a black hat this year,That groundhog is adorable.I didn't see what he gave Mickey this year,but I think it was a fish hat,or so I think.There was a new addition to the crew this year.Micky called him Heath,I wonder if he was Ginger's husbamd.Well any way Heath was a cuttie,but still Smith Lake Jake is the cutest groundhog i've seen. Oh and I watched the 3 of them on tHE Suzuki Man Show,It is real cute.

Anonymous said...

I was reading an article in the Birmingham Parent magazine, about Smith Lake Jake,and they said that you could call Jakes person and they will bring Smith Lake Jake to your school or festival. My son is 7 and said mommy please get me Smith Lake Jake to visit my class room. So I called Ginger and she said sure.Scott, my son is so excited,he is telling everybody. We all can't wait to see the famous groundhog that wear's a hat.

Anonymous said...

Yea I watch fox 6 every year to see what that groundhog " SMITH LAKE JAKE "will say.I enjoy watching it , but I can't see for the life of me, why that cute blond kisses that groundhog smack dab in the mouth, y ,I just AS soon kiss ah donkey's rear end then to kiss that groundhog in the mouth.

Anonymous said...

Millions of people around the world kiss their pet's ,especially their dog's. It's a known fact that humans carry more diseases then animals,It's been said that a dog's mouth is cleaner then a human's. groundhog's want to be kissed and loved to. I should know!

Anonymous said...

Yo Ray, my brother has a donkey named Fred. You are more then welcome to kiss it's rear end. Fred might like it, then again he might just rearange your face. Yea, I myself, would much rather kiss a groundhog,and keep my teeth.

Anonymous said...

I was listening to the radio last week ,and I heard them say that,Smith Lake Jake was one of the most famous groundhog in the world.very impressive! ALABAMA is finally being put on the map.With Taylor,Bo,Ruban, and Smith Lake Jake" I also heard that Smith Lake Jake predicts for the Idols,Iwonder if he will still predict for them since Alabama doesn't have one this year.

Anonymous said...

I saw SMITH lAKE jAKE at the Birmingham zoo on Groundhog"s day. I took my grand baby's. That was the best show I have seen in a long time. They was trying to get Jake to come out of the log,and he wouldn't. They said he had stage fright.Then when they finally got Jake out,they sang a groundhog song, about Smith Lake Jake. It was soooooo sweet, and my grand baby's petted Jake and he didn't even try to bite. Jake is a very tame fellow. P.S. I love you'r comment Jake. I kiss my dog all the time there is much worst things going on in this world then kissing your pet.