Sunday is Groundhog Day, and Dunkirk’s own groundhog, Dunkirk Dave, will be making an appearance as he does each year. Sunday at daybreak, Dunkirk Dave will emerge from his habitat at 5117 Farmlane Road in the Town of Dunkirk to predict the upcoming spring weather.

Dave’s handler, Bob Will, is looking forward to the event, but he is not alone. This whole week, his phone has been ringing much more than usual as people are checking on Dunkirk Dave and wanting to make sure he will still make an appearance.

“In the middle of winter, it gives everybody something to do. It’s a lot of fun,” said Will. “People do show up here, and they expect to see a groundhog. They get a lot of enjoyment out of it.”

Dunkirk Dave is recognized as the world’s second longest prognosticating groundhog, only behind Punxsutawney Phil, of Pennsylvania. The tradition of groundhogs predicting the weather stems from a Pennsylvania Dutch superstition.

Submitted Photos Pictured is Dunkirk Dave and his handler, Bob Will.

Comparing Dunkirk’s annual day to the festivities of Punxsutawney Phil a state away, Will noted how Dunkirk Dave’s appearances are much more natural. Rather than focusing on showmanship with the small creature held high in the air, Dunkirk Dave is given the freedom to saunter out of his habitat at his own pace.

If Dunkirk Dave sees his shadow when he emerges from his habitat on Sunday morning, that indicates six more weeks of winter weather will be coming. That was the case in 2022.

In recent years, Dunkirk Dave has failed to see his shadow, predicting early spring weather in six of the last seven years, including the last two. Will says “it’s hard to say” whether the trend will continue this year, but he is hopeful it will.

Locals will surely be looking for any positive news regarding the weather after the harsh start to this winter. Contrary to popular opinion, Dunkirk Dave does not predict when spring will begin — that is dictated by the calendar. Instead, Dunkirk Dave’s prediction applies to what the weather will be like once spring arrives.

Will has been taking care of animals throughout his life. Will became a State-licensed wildlife rehabilitator to legally care for sick, injured, and orphaned wildlife. He is a former teacher who now focuses on taking care of small mammals and rehabilitating them before releasing them back to the wild.

Will began tracking the predictions each year in the 1960s and has not missed a year, even through the pandemic. Even though Will has been using a groundhog to predict the impending spring weather for over 50 years, it wasn’t until former OBSERVER writer Ron Gustafson and editor Keith Sheldon took note of the annual event with an article that Dunkirk Dave’s popularity really began to grow.

After a pandemic-imposed hiatus, Dunkirk Dave’s annual appearance was opened back up to the public two years ago. Visitors are encouraged to attend the annual celebration again this year.

With Groundhog Day falling on a Sunday this year, Will expects a quieter event than usual. However, the forecast seems favorable compared to many days so far this harsh winter.

“We’ll still be doing it. The groundhog is raring to go,” Will said.

For more information about Dunkirk Dave, visit dunkirkdave.com.