Beau fails to see shadow, predicts early spring

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By Alexis Stevens

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

If you only have to work one day a year, you'd better make sure you get the job done.

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Beau doesn't like to be reminded of this, but he had a big miss in 1993, when a massive blizzard followed his early spring prediction.

Vino Wong, vwong@ajc.com Beau doesn't like to be reminded of this, but he had a big miss in 1993, when a massive blizzard followed his early spring prediction.

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But try telling that to a groundhog.

General Beauregard Lee, the most famous resident of the Yellow River Game Ranch in Lilburn, did his job Wednesday morning. But Beau took his time in emerging from his "Weathering Heights" home.

"We made enough racket that he finally came out," Art Rilling, owner of the ranch, told the AJC.

About 200 guests weathered the blustery temperatures to greet the groundhog, who finally crawled out of his home to the sound of cheering and bell ringing.

Beau made his entrance at 7:41 a.m. and did not see his shadow. Spring is coming early, according to Beau's prediction.

"We were about to give up, but he came out, posed a minute and went back in the house," Rilling said.

Oh, the life of a groundhog. The only animal to have its own holiday. For the second straight year, Beau avoided the paparazzi and made the announcement on his Twitter page.

Meanwhile, up in Pennsylvania, Punxsutawney Phil also failed to see his shadow, predicting an early spring. The groundhogs were in sync.

Rilling, who has owned the ranch for 48 years, said during a winter that has brought two snow storms to the Atlanta area, many are eager for spring. With his reputed 94 percent accuracy rate, chances are good Beau got it right.

Beau doesn't like to be reminded of this, but he had a big miss in 1993, when a massive blizzard followed his early spring prediction. Even groundhogs aren't perfect.

"He better live up to it," Rilling joked. "Or we'll be having groundhog biscuits around here."

-- Staff writer Larry Hartstein contributed to this report.