Given the Friday morning fog that enveloped his Commonage Road home, it91裸聊视频檚 a wonder Okanagan Okie could see anything.

And he didn91裸聊视频檛.

Greater Vernon91裸聊视频檚 prognosticating stuffed rodent meteorologist emerged from its royal green blanket courtesy of Vernon Mayor Victor Cumming at the Allan Brooks Nature Centre on 91裸聊视频� naturally 91裸聊视频� Groundhog Day to predict a quick demise to winter.

91裸聊视频淥h joy. I do not see a shadow of me,91裸聊视频� said Okie through his interpreter, Mayor Cumming, Friday morning, Feb. 2. 91裸聊视频淪o let us celebrate an early spring.91裸聊视频�

Cumming was quick to point out to the crowd of close to 100 that at the second annual Groundhog Day celebration at the nature centre in 2023, Okanagan Okie also failed to see his shadow.

91裸聊视频淩emember how cold it was last year? It (early spring) didn91裸聊视频檛 come. I feel for Okie, down one on that one,91裸聊视频� said Cumming, toque-less and minus several layers of clothing from his speech in 2023.

91裸聊视频淕roundhog Day is a reminder that just like life, we can91裸聊视频檛 always predict what91裸聊视频檚 coming around the corner. But we can face it with a sense of humour and community spirit.91裸聊视频�

Vernon Monashee MLA Harwinder Sandhu 91裸聊视频� dressed in stylish heel shoes, pointed out deftly by event emcee Rebecca Barton of Beach Radio 91裸聊视频� said Groundhog Day is not just about predicting the weather.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 celebrating nature91裸聊视频檚 cycle and the testament of her deep connection with the environment and a reminder to the resilience of life as we eagerly await the verdict of our furry meteorologist,91裸聊视频� said Sandhu.

Nature centre manager Cheryl Hood explained to the crowd there were a few reasons why a stuffed yellow-bellied marmot serves as a weather predictor.

91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e not a nature park where we have the facilities or abilities to ensure we keep the animals healthy and safe in the environment,91裸聊视频� said Hood.

91裸聊视频淭he other issue is that the yellow-bellied marmot is a wild animal and, for us, wild animals should stay wild and we love having people come up here and enjoying them in their natural environment.

91裸聊视频淚f we disturb their hibernation and sleep pattern, they don91裸聊视频檛 live as long as the ones in the wild. So for health and safety we use Okanagan Okie as our stuffed meteorologist.91裸聊视频�

The Allan Brooks Nature Centre will open for its 2024 season on Saturday, April 20, with staff and volunteers planning a number of special events for opening day.

The centre will celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2025. The Allan Brooks Nature Centre opened July 1, 2000.