The popularity of groundhog as weather prognosticators began in Canada with Ontario's Wiarton Willy in the 1950s. (Shutterstock.com)

All eyes are on furry forecasters Feb. 2, watching to see if marmots will send an instant message heralding spring.

But experts say it's all is bunch of lies — groundhogs are terrible at predicting weather and should be replaced by more reliable technology.

“Males emerge first most probably to ensure that they have first opportunity to mate with any emerging females,” Says Mark Engstrom, senior mammal curator at Royal Ontario Museum. "So it is love/lust that propels the groundhog rather than a preoccupation with weather forecasting."

The popularity of groundhog as weather prognosticators began in Canada with Ontario's Wiarton Willy in the 1950s. Soon, other jurisdictions followed.

The first to peek out of its burrow, due to time zone differences, may or may not be Nova Scotia's Schubenacadie Sam. Next will or will not be Willie in Wiarton and Gary in Kleinburg, Ont, followed by Brandon Bob in Manitoba and Balzac Billy in Alberta.

This year, the group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is lobbying via blog to replace the rodents at the centre of the media storm with electronic versions they say will more accurately determine if we're in for six more weeks of winter or not.

Only then will "the bitter winter that's made (the groundhog) into an unwilling media attraction will end, making way for a sunny spring that everyone can enjoy."

Celestially, Groundhog Day lies midway between the winter solstice and spring equinox. The Romans celebrated Februus, a purification festival to prepare fields for planting on this day.

However, for many Groundhog Day myth is nothing but a season changing superstition.

“The groundhog lore has no other significance but is a fun concept like Santa and the Easter Bunny,” says Keith Heidorn, from Valemount, B.C., a self-proclaimed Weather Doctor and author who writes about weather on his weather almanac website.

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