This ‘kat' agrees with Gen. Beauregard's spring forecast

By Fran Jeffries

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

An early spring is a sure thing, according to Georgia’s most famous groundhog, General Beauregard Lee after he emerged from his  home at Gwinnett County’s Yellow River Game Ranch on a cloudy Thursday morning and seeing no shadow. 

Enlarge photo

Heinrich Van Den Berg, Animal Planet A meerkat like the one seen in this photo has been entrusted with predicting spring's arrival in Georgia this year.

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Asante, a meerkat at Chehaw State Park in Albany, who served as Southwest Georgia's weather prognosticator, agreed with Beauregard Lee in predicting that spring is in its way after not seeing his shadow Thursday morning.

Asante -- part of the park's Meerkat Manor exhibit --  was awarded the job normally held by a groundhog, Zoo director Kevin Hils, told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Thursday. He said he was confident the meerkat was the right choice for the job.  "He did it last year and was spot on," Hils said.

What, you ask, are Meerkats anyway? Well, they ain't from around here, but one of them -- Timon -- had a starring role in the ‘Lion King' movie.

They're small burrowing (and cute) mammals belonging to the mongoose family and hail from Africa -- mainly in Botswana, Namibia and South Africa.

They live in large underground networks with multiple entrances, which they leave only during the day. One meerkat stands sentry to alert the others to approaching danger.

Southwest Georgia spring predictions had also been made by another Chehaw resident, Sheldon the gopher tortoise, who had a perfect record during his eight years on the prognosticating job, Hils noted.

So much for specialization.

Gen. Lee could not be reached for comment.