February 2 is Marmot Day and Hedgehog Day.
Marmot Day is one of the most popular traditions in the United States, which is to determine the duration and timeliness of spring by the behavior of a specially "designated" marmot. The roots of the tradition of determining the weather by the behavior of animals are inherent in the cultures of many peoples of the world. Similar traditions on Marmot Day in Europe date back to antiquity. In the Roman Empire on February 2 people celebrated Hedgehog Day.
The ancient Romans based their meteorological forecast on the behavior of an awakened hedgehog who saw or did not see his shadow and reacted accordingly. In Germany, the role of the hedgehog was played by a badger. This tradition was introduced in Ukraine.
Mykolaiv Zoo joins this tradition.
We have three marmots. Now our marmots are hibernating. They wake up most often in late February. Of course, we will not wake up these animals to receive forecasts on February 2.
But the hedgehog living in our contact zoo was not disturbed, because we have four-toed hedgehog , they do not hibernate. Our white beauty Bilosnizhka did not see her shadow today, so, according to beliefs, we should wait for early spring.
According to statistics, neither marmots nor hedgehogs as forecasters are particularly accurate in their forecasts. But the celebration of Marmot Day and Hedgehog Day is a good occasion to learn more about these interesting animals, as young biologists of Mykolaiv Zoo did today.