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PETA Proposes Groundhog Day ‘Weather Reveal’ Cake To Retire Punxsutawney Phil, Club Responds

Punxsutawney Phil may soon be out of a job—if PETA has its way. The animal rights organization sent a letter on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025, urging the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club to retire its famed groundhog to a sanctuary and replace him with a vegan “Weather Reveal” cake.

Poll
🐾 PETA says it’s time for Punxsutawney Phil to retire and is offering a vegan cake alternative for Groundhog Day predictions. The Groundhog Club says Phil’s fans wouldn’t stand for it. What do YOU think? Vote below! 🌤️
Current Results

🐾 PETA says it’s time for Punxsutawney Phil to retire and is offering a vegan cake alternative for Groundhog Day predictions. The Groundhog Club says Phil’s fans wouldn’t stand for it. What do YOU think? Vote below! 🌤️

  • Yes – Let Phil live in peace! 🎂 Bring on the ‘Weather Reveal’ cake!
    10%
  • No – Phil is a tradition, and we love him! 🦫
    83%
  • Maybe – Replace him with a human or another creative idea. 🤔
    7%

The cake would reveal either blue or pink filling, signifying six more weeks of winter or an early spring, respectively, PETA suggested. PETA President Ingrid Newkirk stated, “Groundhogs are shy prey animals who avoid humans, yet Phil is annually subjected to flashing lights, loud crowds, and captivity that goes against all his natural instincts.”

The proposal follows similar pleas from PETA in previous years, which included suggestions like using a human weather prognosticator or planting persimmon trees to predict seasonal changes.

Club President Defends Phil

In response, Punxsutawney Groundhog Club President Jeff Lundy dismissed has previously dismissed PETA’s annual proposals. In an interview with NewsRadio KDKA, Lundy emphasized that Phil is treated like “the king in Punxsutawney” and resides in a certified agricultural zoo where he receives regular veterinary care.

“We thought they’d come up with a better idea this year,” Lundy previously remarked. “Phil’s fans would be disappointed if he was retired. He’s part of the tradition.”

In past years, the club has consistently defended its treatment of Phil. Lundy and previous club officials have invited PETA and the public to visit and see Phil’s living conditions firsthand. Former club president Bill Deeley once stated that Phil is not mistreated and enjoys a comfortable life.

Daily Voice has reached out to the club for a statement on the latest PETA suggestion. 

PETA Pushes Back

PETA’s offer also included a giant thermometer as an alternative for the annual weather prediction at Gobbler’s Knob. “If it’s still cold, it’s still winter,” Newkirk said in the letter, highlighting what she called the “absurdity” of the event.

While opinions remain divided, Phil’s upcoming weather prediction will undoubtedly draw crowds once again this Groundhog Day.

Editor's Note: This article has been updated to the Club's previous interviews responding to PETA.

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