Alaska Celebrates Marmot Day

Without having any groundhogs, Alaska now has its own version of Groundhog Day. Then-Gov. Sarah Palin signed a bill last year to make every February 2nd Marmot Day in Alaska. The bill was introduced by Sen. Linda Menard, a Wasilla Republican. Because groundhogs are not common in Alaska, Menard says it made sense for the marmot to become Alaska’s version of Punxsutawney Phil, the Pennsylvania groundhog famed for his winter weather forecasts. Menard’s bill didn’t give marmots any weather forecasting duties, but she hopes the state will created educational activities around the animal.