LI Groundhog 'Holtsville Hal' Is Getting Ready For His Prognostication

HOLTSVILLE, NY — It's around four more weeks till us humans know if winter will continue or if there will be an early spring — only Holtsville Hal will know.

Hundreds are expected to gather at the Holtsville Ecology Site on Feb. 2 to witness Brookhaven Town Highways Supt. Dan Losquadro announce the little guy's weather prediction.

If a groundhog sees its shadow after stirring from hibernation on Groundhog Day, there will be six more weeks of winter, but if not, spring could arrive early. Losquadro will reveal Hal’s forecast around 7:25 a.m.

Losquadro called the town's annual Groundhog Day celebration "an enjoyable tradition for many local families."

“I’m always hopeful Hal will predict an early spring to help my snow removal budget, but either way this is a much-anticipated event each year in Brookhaven Town," he said.

Hal’s prognostication is anxiously anticipated every year, said Supervisor Ed Romaine, adding, that "it’s always a relief when he predicts an early spring."

If anyone should know that, it's Losquadro, who is in charge of overseeing snow clean-up.

"Let’s hope that he doesn’t see his shadow on Groundhog Day and we can look forward to a short winter season," he said.

Hal will not be the only animal available for viewing on Groundhog Day, though.

Visitors have the choice of seeing over 100 non-releasable, wild, or injured animals residing at the animal preserve while sipping free hot chocolate. The preserve features not only Hal but Leonardo DiCatbrio, a Lynx newly added to the menagerie after a wild run in western Suffolk. Other animals include an American Buffalo, a Bald Eagle, and a Bobcat.

The preserve will be open from 7 to 11 a.m.

Gates will open at the Holtsville Ecology Site & Animal Preserve, 249 Buckley Rd., Holtsville, at 7 a.m. on Feb. 2. Parking is free. Residents are asked to arrive as close to 7 a.m. as possible to get a good view of Hal. For more information, call 631-451-5330.