Phil's day is coming up

Groundhog Day always falls on Feb. 2, traditionally marking the midpoint between the winter solstice in December and the spring equinox in March. The story explains that the over-grown rodent can predict the length of our winter by taking a look at his own shadow. If he spots it, there'll be six more weeks of winter; if not, then spring daffodils are right around the corner. As my Irish blooded mother might say, "It sounds like a lot of malarkey to me." So, where did this story originate? There's a long human tradition concerning the time between solstice and equinox. Many of the beliefs center upon the rebirth of the world from the desolate and hard winter life to the arrival of spring, the birthing of young animals, greening of the countryside and arrival of planting season. In a greater and more religious perspective, it was often looked upon as the triumph of birth over death — a spiritual promise of life. Historically, the New World's woodchuck wasn't the first animal that was celebrated as a possible prognosticating predictor of spring's arrival. A bear helped forecast for the people of France and England and those in Germany turned to badgers for a sign. They were looked upon for their predictions during the Christian celebration of Candlemas; also known as the Feast of the Presentation and the Feast of the Purification. Since the traditional celebration anticipated the planting of crops, a central focus of the festivities was the forecasting of either an early spring or a lingering winter. Without WeatherBug on a smart phone, they needed to look for other ways to guess the upcoming weather. Sunshine on Candlemas was said to indicate the return of winter. German immigrants coming to Pennsylvania found that weather forecasting badgers were in rather short supply but that woodchucks might know as much about coming atmospheric conditions as their home country's badgers. The groundhog was hired without interview. While both animals like to dig, the similarities end there. When Ohio was first settled, groundhogs (AKA woodchucks) were rare. However, as Ohio's forested land was cleared for farmer's fields, their numbers increased. Today, these vegetarians are found in all of Ohio's 88 counties but are most prevalent in the sandy gravel soil of east-central Ohio. Those transplanted Germanic traditions have woven their way onto our annual calendar, into winter festivals and birthed the celebrity Punxsutawney Phil who also has imitating cousins in many other states. Today's celebrated Groundhog Day is a remote survivor of those old beliefs. Though we recognize that animal behavior isn't the only way to judge planting dates, the tradition continues, often with a wink, smile and maybe a little suspicion that Phil might just know something we don't. Can a woodchuck really forecast when spring might arrive? Researchers who have time — and probably government-gifted cash — to research such things say that Punxsutawney Phil is batting about .390 — if only my Cleveland Guardians would do as well. Tomorrow, fabled Phil will decide whether we can start breaking out the fishing gear and gardening supplies. I hope he has good news; I've never been much of an ice fisherman. "The trouble with weather forecasting is that it's right too often for us to ignore it and wrong too often for us to rely on it." — Patrick Young Along the way On Jan. 23, fire managers in southern California requested additional resources to help combat wildfires which continue to be fueled by the state's dry conditions and strong winds. In response, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has announced that he has dispatched a nine-person fire management team from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) to assist in the battle to control devastating wildfires that continue to rage in California. "We've been anticipating that California may call on our skilled ODNR wildfire response team, so we were prepared and ready to answer the call for help," said Gov. DeWine. "I commend the members of our brave crew who are leaving their loved ones in order to support their counterparts on the West Coast." The wildfire response team, which operates as part of ODNR's Division of Forestry, left Columbus today en route to Beaumont, California, where they will receive more details of their assignment. The team is bringing its own protective equipment, hand tools, chainsaws, and a wide variety of other supplies. Step outside • Tomorrow: Primitive Blackpowder Muzzle Loader Shoot, round ball only, 1 p.m. Black Swamp Muzzle Loaders Club, 8831 Township Rd. 19, McComb, OH 45858. Email: roadkill4u@hotmail.com. • Tomorrow: Trap Shoot, 1 p.m. Mount Blanchard Gun Club, 21655 Delaware Township 186. • Tomorrow: Last day of Ohio's Deer Archery Season. • Feb.15: Deadline for Ohio State students and March 28 Deadline for non-Ohio State students and high school students. Apply for scholarship support to attend classes at Stone Laboratory, The Ohio State University's Island campus on Lake Erie. Classes provide students with a hands-on outdoor science experience in areas such as amphibians, birds, fish, local plants, and foundational knowledge about numerous Lake Erie ecosystems. Courses are open to advanced high school students — sophomores, juniors, and seniors who have already taken biology — as well as to college undergraduates looking for practical experience in their chosen field. To see scholarship requirements and to apply, got to: go.osu.edu/aid • Feb. 16: 50-Bird Trap Shoot, practice opens 11:30 a.m., program begins 12:30 p.m. UCOA, 6943 Marion Township 243, Findlay. Public welcome. Contact: Sandy Thomas, sandthm@aol.com. • Feb. 22: Hardin County Pheasants Forever Annual Banquet, 5:30 p.m. Hardin County Fairgrounds Community Center. For tickets, visit online: www.events.pheasantsforever.org/events/0cdd8490-3203-472a-8611-60553b4dfeb3 or visit them on Facebook: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064352126677. • March 1: Wyandot County Pheasants Forever Annual Banquet. The Masters Building, Wyandot County Fairgrounds, 10171 Ohio 53 N., Upper Sandusky. Doors open at 5:00 p.m. For information: wyandotpf@gmail.com. For tickets: https://events.pheasantsforever.org/events/f0db99f6-f025-4cf9-a638-ee8adcb61a55. • March 14–16: Open Season Sportsman's Expo Ohio, Bricker Building, Ohio State Fairgrounds. Industry leading companies, high-tech gear, equipment, and the latest hunting and outdoor products on the market today; Archery Trick Shooting, Field-to-Fork Cooking Demos, Educational Seminars, world class whitetail deer displays and much more. Tickets or information: www.openseasonsportsmansexpo.com/ohio. • March 15-16: The largest collecting and carving event in the MidwestT sponsored by the Ohio Decoy Collectors and Carvers Association (ODCCA) and the Great Lakes Decoy Association. Holiday Inn Cleveland South, 6001 Rockside Road, Independence, OH. For information: www.odcca.net. • March 22: Seneca County Pheasants Forever Annual Banquet, Meadow Park Ballroom, 5430 W Tiffin St., Bascom. For information: aroby@pheasantsforever.orgo For tickets: https://events.pheasantsforever.org/events/5eca7d77-725f-402e-8313-984be40c0655. • March 25: Deadline to enter your best bird photos and videos in this year's Audubon Photography Awards. The winning images will be eligible for significant cash prizes and the chance to have them featured in Audubon magazine. To learn more about the photography contest, visit: www.audubon.org/section/audubon-photography-awards. Jim Abrams is a retired wildlife officer supervisor for the state Division of Wildlife in Findlay. He can be reached at P.O. Box 413, Mount Blanchard, OH 45867-0413 or via email at jimsfieldnotes@aol.com.