Groundhog Day 2015: Groundhog Jimmy Bites Wisconsin Mayor's Ear [Watch]
One Wisconsin mayor has proven why it is a bad idea to get too close to a groundhog.
On Groundhog Day, Mayor Jonathan Freund of Sun Prairie was bitten by Groundhog Jimmy while he was delivering his weather prediction on Monday. In a video recording of the incident, Mayor Freund is seen giving an announcement of the groundhog's weather prediction as a man was holding the furry critter next to his face. That's when the groundhog took a wide bite on his ear.
Nonetheless, Freund continued to announce his prognosis that there would be an early spring.
However, Jimmy's handlers, Jerry and Maria Hahn, corrected the mayor, saying that there would be six more weeks of winter. In response, the city issued a statement stating that only the mayor can translate Jimmy's prediction, reports the Journal Sentinel.
Last year, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio had a fatal incident on Groundhog Day after he dropped and killed a groundhog. During a ceremony, de Blasio failed to get a good grip on the animal, and it fell out of his hands, before hitting the ground in a nearly six foot drop.
About a week later, the New York Post reported that the furry spring predictor died of internal injuries consistent with a fall.
Staten Island Zoo officials tried to keep the animal's death hidden; however, sources revealed that Charlotte was found dead on Feb. 9 in her cage. An autopsy found that she died from "acute internal injuries."
In this year's groundhog ceremony, the 2015 version of Staten Island Chuck was protected in a Plexiglas enclosure during his annual winter prediction. The hairy rodent promised an early start to spring.
"This new approach will be safer for both species," joked de Blasio, according to The Post.
"Now, there's been a very concerted effort over the last few weeks -- teams of animal behavior experts, and scientists have consulted from all over the country, the National Institute of Health has weighed in on my behalf -- the National Institute of Groundhog Health has weighed in as well," de Blasio added.
Watch video of Mayor Freund getting bit by Jimmy the Groundhog.
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