Groundhog Bites Mayor While Whispering Prediction for Coming of Spring

Jimmy, the official groundhog in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, bit the mayor's ear on Monday, just minutes after predicting an early spring.

Madison.com reported that the town's 67th annual Groundhog Day celebration otherwise went off without a hitch, and that Mayor Jon Freund suffered no injury from the nip.



"He got his point across. He certainly has my ear," Freund joked after the fact.

He also said he held no ill-will toward the critter, and issued him a sort of informal pardon.

"Jimmy is a free groundhog," said Freund. "He is always welcome in Sun Prairie."

Jimmy is the town's 11th groundhog to predict the coming of spring, and, as per town tradition, was held up the mayor's ear so that he could personally tell him how long the winter would hold.

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