Fred la marmotte

Groundhog in Quebec, Canada, that celebrates Groundhog Day

Fred la marmotte in 2020.

Fred la marmotte (French: Fred the Marmot, lit. 'Fred the Groundhog') is a groundhog located in Val-d'Espoir near Percé, Quebec, whose behaviour is used to predict weather on Groundhog Day.[1] Fred is the official groundhog of Quebec for Groundhog Day predictions.[2] The name "Fred la marmotte" is passed to a succession of groundhogs, that are replaced as they retire or die.[3]

## Usage of Fred

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According to the tradition of Groundhog Day, if the enlisted groundhog sees its shadow, then spring will be delayed; if it does not see its shadow, then spring will be early.[4]

Fred was the only groundhog located on a World Heritage Site to be used for Groundhog Day weather prediction.[5]

## Succession of Freds

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The original Fred, "Gros Fred" ("Big Fred"; also called "Fred Sénior"[2]), was engaged from 2010 to 2017 and again in 2019; his son "Petit Fred" ("Little Fred") stood in for the 2018 event.[6] The succeeding Fred, son of "Fred Sénior" ("Fred Senior", the original Fred) was found dead on February 2, 2023, coincidentally on Groundhog Day.[7][2] The next year, a new Fred predicted an early spring.[3]

## Past predictions

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2010  | "Late spring"[8]

|

2011  | "Late spring"[9]
2012  | "Late spring"[10]
2013  | "Long winter"[11]
2014  | "Early spring"[11]
2015  | "Long winter"[11]
2016  | "Late spring"[12]
2017  | "Early spring"[13]
2018  | "Early spring"[14]
2019  | "Late spring"[4]
2020  | "Early spring"[15]
2021  | "Early spring"[16]
2022  | "Late spring"[17]
2023  | "Long winter"[11]
2024  | "Early spring"[18]

## References

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1. ^ "Gaspésie: la marmotte Fred prédit un printemps tardif". Le Journal de Québec (in French). February 2, 2019.
2. ^ a b c Brigitte Dubé (February 2, 2023). "Fred, la marmotte gaspésienne, meurt avant d'avoir pu prédire l'arrivée du printemps" [Fred, the Gaspesian marmot, died before being able to make a prediction]. ICI Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine (in French). ICI Radio-Canada.
3. ^ a b "An early spring? Quebec's new Fred la marmotte says 'yes'". montreal.ctvnews.ca. BellMedia. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
4. ^ a b "Groundhog Day: Quebec's Fred la marmotte predicts a late spring". Montreal Gazette. February 2, 2019.
5. ^ "Fred, marmotte de l'Unesco". Chaleurs Nouvelles (in French). January 11, 2019.
6. ^ "Fred, la marmotte gaspésienne, prédit un printemps tardif". Le Soleil (in French). February 2, 2019.
7. ^ Wilton, Katherine (February 2, 2023). "Quebec's beloved Fred la Marmotte dies on Groundhog Day". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
8. ^ "L'hiver risque d'être long, foi de Fred la marmotte". La Presse (in French). February 2, 2010.
9. ^ "La marmotte du Québec prévoit un hiver plus long". La Presse (in French). February 2, 2011.
10. ^ "Quebec's forecasting groundhog expects more winter". CBC News Montreal. February 2, 2012.
11. ^ a b c d "Fred la marmotte". Retrieved February 5, 2024.
12. ^ "La marmotte gaspésienne Fred prédit un printemps hâtif". Journal du Québec (in French). February 2, 2016.
13. ^ "Live update from Groundhog Day: Quebec's Fred la marmotte predicts an early spring". Montreal Gazette. February 2, 2017.
14. ^ "Spring is on the way according to Quebec's Fred la marmotte". CBC News Montreal. February 2, 2018.
15. ^ "Q&A: Fred la Marmotte on love, rivalry and the burden of Groundhog Day". Montreal Gazette. February 2, 2020.
16. ^ "Q&A: Canada's weather-predicting groundhogs call for early spring". CTV News. February 2, 2021.
17. ^ "Q&A: Montreal weather, Groundhog Day: Fred la marmotte predicts 6 more weeks of winter". Montreal Gazette. February 2, 2022.
18. ^ "An early spring? Quebec's new Fred la marmotte says 'yes'". montreal.ctvnews.ca. BellMedia. Retrieved February 2, 2024.

## External links

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* "Fred la marmotte officielle du Québec" (in French).

## See also

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* Oracular animal

* v
* t
* e

Groundhog Day

Groundhogs|

* Balzac Billy
* Buckeye Chuck
* Fred la marmotte
* General Beauregard Lee
* Punxsutawney Phil
* Shubenacadie Sam
* Staten Island Chuck
* Wiarton Willie

Other marmots|

* Stormy Marmot

*[lit.]: Literal translation
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*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template