Early spring? Late winter? Here’s what Birmingham Jill predicted

Step aside, Punxsutawney Phil—Birmingham Jill has a prediction! On Sunday, February 1, the Birmingham Zoo’s master weather prognosticator saw her shadow, which means we have six more weeks of winter.

Birmingham Jill is the stand-in for Birmingham Bill

For eight years, Jill, the awesome Virginia Opossum, has stood in for the resident Birmingham Zoo groundhog, Birmingham Bill. 

Jill takes on Bill’s traditional duties because he is currently hibernating.

“He (Bill) is sound asleep—and you don’t want to wake up a grumpy old groundhog!”

Bill Lang, Birmingham Zoo

According to Lang, Birmingham Jill has a better track record than the legendary Punxsutawney Phil.

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