New Jersey hedgehog Elsa dies days before Groundhog Day

Groundhog Day is becoming an endangered vacation successful New Jersey, wherever Cape May officials said its weather forecasting hedgehog Elsa has died.

Cape May County Park & Zoo told NJ.com the groundhog, who for the past 3 years told confederate New Jersey residents erstwhile outpouring is coming, volition nary longer beryllium seeing her shadow.

“We mislaid her past week,” parks manager Edward Runyon said, adding helium was unsure if a replacement groundhog oregon hedgehog could beryllium recovered by Sunday.

Milltown, N.J. canceled its Feb. 2 Groundhog Day festivities for the 5th consecutive twelvemonth since Milltown Mel, its nonmigratory rodent, died 2 days earlier showtime successful 2022. The municipality has been incapable to import a replacement owed to New Jersey laws meant to halt the spread of rabies, according to Milltown Mel’s Facebook page.

“Hopefully the indispensable authorities volition beryllium done successful clip for america to resume Groundhog Day adjacent year,” wranglers said past week.

While Milltown Mel whitethorn person been up for the occupation successful 2021, COVID-19 lockdowns enactment the kibosh connected that year’s festivities, according to News 12.

Perhaps the astir celebrated tristate groundhog decease occurred successful 2014 erstwhile Staten Island Chuck died days aft erstwhile Mayor Bill De Blasio dropped the furry forecaster. The Staten Island Zoo refrained from blaming the politician for the 10-month-old rodent’s demise.