Dating back all the way to 1887, Punxsutawney Phil has been the most well-known meteorologist the country has ever seen (sorry, Jim Cantore). Every year on February 2nd, the man himself comes from his burrow to forecast whether or not we will have to endure more of the same bitter cold weather, or if we will see an early spring.
As a meteorology student, to say this is questionable is an understatement. I mean after all, who is this woodchuck that thinks he can just come out of his winter hibernation and get all of this fame? Not to mention, he doesn’t have the best track record! Many swear by whether or not Phil comes up to see his shadow. Me? I think history speaks for itself. With only a 40% success rate… I think it is time to move on to bigger, better things… hornets.
Many people don’t know that hornets also do their own hibernating. The cold winter temperatures are too much for them to get through. However, unlike birds, they don’t have the luxury of vacationing down south. Mated queen hornets will hunker down somewhere warm to hibernate through winter. Once it becomes warm enough, they will come out and start building their nest. When you start to think about it, who gave this pudgy rodent all the fame anyways? Don’t you think hornets should have some say too?
If you’ve made it this far, you probably think that hornets would be a way better representation every February 2nd, and I’m with you. Join us on the NVU-Lyndon campus on Wednesday, February 2nd at 12:30 PM in Veterans Park to see what our queen hornet has to say about the next 6 weeks!