The Ultimate Groundhog Showdown

Fellow groundhog enthusiasts, have you ever wondered who the best groundhog is in the United States? In the month of February, the beloved Groundhog Day holiday occurs and lets many Americans know whether to expect an early spring or additional weeks of winter. However, not many people actually discuss the legacies of the furry forecasters that give us these predictions. Here, we will be ranking some groundhogs based on their cuteness, accuracy, and influence. 

#10: Buckeye Chuck (Ohio) 

Starting with the lowest-ranked groundhog we have Buckeye Chuck with an impressive 75% success rate in his predictions. Chuck simply has not done anything exciting in his career, and has a low-effort ceremony each year. 

#9: Chattanooga Chuck( Tennessee) 

Next up we have another Chuck, but this time from Chattanooga. This Chuck also had no appeal and only was brought to fame through a breeder. However, Chattanooga Chuck has the highest accuracy percentage on this list with 87.5% accuracy. This chuck has been predicting since 2010, yet he not done anything impeccable in his career, leading him to sit near the bottom of the list.

#8: Thistle the Whistle-pig (Ohio) 

Unlike what her name suggests, Thistle is not a pig but a groundhog. Thistle was born the runt of her litter and had her rise to fame at only 5 weeks old. Thistle is an adorable little thing and easy to fall in love with, yet her accuracy ratings aren't posted. While she has made a name for herself, she has made no significant changes in the groundhog world. 

#7: Jimmy (Wisconsin)

Jimmy from Wisconsin is where things begin to get exciting. Jimmy has an average 80% accuracy rate. However,  one year during the ceremony, when he was being photographed with the mayor, Jimmy felt upset and decided to bite the mayor's ear on live television. Jimmy stood his ground against the mayor and for that, he has earned our respect. 

#6: French Creek Freddie (Tennessee)  

Freddie has the second-lowest rating on this list coming in at a barely passing 50%. However, what Freddie lacks in accuracy, he makes up for in his spirit. The townspeople of French Creek made Freddie his very own theme song and he has his own festival for the townspeople. Freddie is highly respected in his community and brings joy to all citizens.

#5: Punxsutawney Phil (Pennsylvania)  

Punxatawny Phil is one of the most famous groundhogs in America. . He has built a reputation for other state groundhogs, and while he is beloved by the people, he is quite a bore. He has the lowest accuracy rating at 39%. He is so famous that he even has his own gift shop, and seemingly has become standard for Groundhog contests, as he is constantly being compared to his less famous counterparts. Personally, I believe Phil is overrated and dims the spotlight for much better groundhogs.

#4: Miltown Mel (New Jersey)  

Milltown Mel is quite a mysterious groundhog. Her accuracy rate is unknown and right before the 2022 ceremony she unfortunately passed away due to unknown causes. The reason, however, as to why she is so high up on this list is because of her splendid outfit. She is seen pictured with the miniature pilgrim hat and her buck teeth. 

#3: Essex Ed (New Jersey) 

Falling in at third place, Essex Ed has come to shine. He has an 85% percentage score and was surprisingly mentored by  Punxsutawney Phil. However, Ed has a bit of a mean streak and is said to be Miltown Mel’s enemy for unknown reasons. Ed does more than just predict the seasons; he also predicts the Super Bowl winnings, yet usually falls short of the results as he falls into hibernation. 

#2: Staten Island Chuck (New York)  

Staten Island Chuck is in the top two! I believe him to be the best groundhog with the name of Chuck, as he has a 80% accuracy rate and is yet another rival of Phil. What truly makes Chuck shine, however, is his actions in the year of 2009. Chuck was going on a streak of correct predictions and had never shown any violence toward handlers, until the first year he had gotten an incorrect prediction. That year during the ceremony, Chuck decided to randomly bite the mayor holding him, and after being put back into his cage, seemed unfazed. 

 #1: Charlotte (New York)  

Finally, in the number one groundhog spot in this list, is Charlotte. She is a tad mysterious as her accuracy rates have not been published, yet she has a remarkable reputation. Unfortunately, her career fell short due to Mayor Bill de Blasio dropping her during her ceremony. Charlotte was attempting to break free when the Mayor got spooked and then dropped her. While it is not fully confirmed that the fall led to her death, the Mayor refuses to hold any accountability. Due to this incident, now most groundhog ceremonies have proper handlers there for them and stricter rules about touching the groundhogs. Not only does Charlotte get pity points, but she also changed the legacy of groundhog safety, making her to be the Queen of groundhogs.