Oregon Weather Forecast: We Have A Hedgehog That Says Spring Is Coming

The joke in Oregon is that if the groundhog doesn't see his shadow it means six weeks of rain. And if he does see his shadow, it's still six more weeks of rain. Either way, chances are the groundhog drowns and if you have to get a new one.

Fortunately, for groundhogs, they don't live in Oregon so we go to hedgehogs for weather forecasts.

That's where FuFu the pygmy hedgehog comes in.

According to Tanya Paul, animal curator at the Oregon Zoo where FuFu lives, hedgehogs were the original weather forecasters.

"Groundhogs like Punxsutawney Phil are relative newcomers to the game," Paul said. "According to folklore, the Europeans who originated the tradition originally used hedgehogs. When they immigrated to the United States, they realized their new home didn’t have hedgehogs, so they turned to the groundhog out of necessity.

"But FuFu is bringing the holiday back to its origins."

Paul said that last year's hedgehog forecaster - Velda - was on the mark with an early Spring.

The zoo says that, historically, their hedgehogs have a better track record than Punxsutawney Phil.

Phil's correct about 39 percent of the time compared to the hedgehogs who have been right nearly 50 percent of the time.

So, as the region braces for another storm, here's hoping FuFu is correct.

Photo Oregon Zoo via YouTube