Stephen: Quebec groundhog found dead prior to Groundhog Day celebrations

This cannot be a good omen. Fred la Marmotte, the groundhog which presides over Groundhog Day prognostication in Quebec, was found dead in his hutch prior to his big moment in the early hours of Groundhog Day, by Roberto Blondin, who organizes La Jour de Fred event in Val-d’Espoir, Quebec every year on February 2nd. It is not known exactly when Fred passed, with Blondin remarking at the event that it could have happened during his hibernation period, which typically lasts from late fall to late winter. The festivities continued in Fred’s honour and 6 more weeks of winter was predicted, but there’s no word on if that’s legally binding without a live groundhog presiding over the ruling.