PETA Is Back with Another Idea to Replace Punxsutawney Phil

The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals has sent a letter to The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club's president, Tom Dunkel, offering to deliver a “Weather Reveal” cake in place of Phil.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals has offered to provide a vegan “Weather Reveal” cake to replace Punxsutawney Phil in the annual Groundhog Day festivities.

In a letter to The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club president Tom Dunkel on Wednesday, PETA said that Phil and his family are exploited for entertainment and that the groundhog doesn't get to enjoy a life in the wild.

The organization said that Phil is transported to Gobbler’s Knob, subjected to a noisy announcer, screaming crowds, and flashing lights against all his natural instincts.

“If approached in his natural habitat, he would run away in fear, not volunteer to live year-round in captivity, unable to do anything that’s natural and important to him like hibernate or burrow — just to be a town’s once-a-year fake meteorologist,” PETA wrote.

The “Weather Reveal” cake would be cut to expose one of two colors, blue or pink, much like popular online gender reveal videos.

Blue would mean six more weeks of winter, pink would indicate and early spring.

It’s the latest idea from PETA to replace Phil. Last year, PETA suggested a “giant gold coin” toss for the weather prediction.

In previous years, the animal right organization has suggested replacing Phil with a weather-forecasting robot.

Groundhog Day is the biggest day of the year for the people of Punxsutawney and a large venue generator for the region.

This annual event began in 1886 and is a big tourist event for the town in Jefferson County with thousands of people visiting every year.

If Phil sees his shadow at Gobbler’s Knob, there will be an extra six weeks of winter. If he doesn't, an early spring is predicted.

Punxsutawney is about an hour and a half from Pittsburgh.

PETA’s letter to Dunkel reads:

January 21, 2025

Tom Dunkel

President

The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club

Dear Mr. Dunkel:

I’m writing again on behalf of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals—PETA entities have more than 9 million members and supporters globally, including many thousands in Pennsylvania—with a sweet new offer: Retire Phil to a reputable sanctuary with his family, and every year we’ll provide a giant vegan “Weather Reveal” cake (it would be the first in the world this year) to share with revelers at Gobbler’s Knob. If the inside of the cake is blue, there will be six more weeks of winter. If it’s pink, there will be an early spring. This would allow you to still make tourism dough while showing Phil a slice of decency. It would be at least as accurate as asking a groundhog what to expect in a way that doesn’t even reflect his nature.

You batter believe that for Phil, Groundhog Day is no piece of cake. Groundhogs are shy prey animals who, when allowed, actively avoid humans. Yet, year after year, Phil is transported to Gobler’s Knob, whisked on stage, and subjected to a noisy announcer, screaming crowds, and flashing lights against all his natural instincts. If approached in his natural habitat, he would run away in fear, not volunteer to live year-round in captivity, unable to do anything that’s natural and important to him like hibernate or burrow—just to be a town’s once-a-year fake meteorologist.

If our suggestions for alternatives to exploiting an intelligent, sensitive animal are starting to feel like Groundhog Day, it’s because in the 21st century, as more and more people realize that every animal is an individual with their own interests, needs, and personalities—as well as being able to feel pain, fear, joy, and love—we know that locals and tourists who genuinely respect Phil want him to live his life doing what’s natural to him.

We’re not going to sugarcoat it: It’s high time for Punxsutawney to rise to the occasion and follow the example of kind communities like the Village of Babylon, New York, which has a willing human prognosticator in a costume to protect—not exploit—our fellow animals. If you don’t like this idea, the icing on the cake is that we have another offer: We’d be happy to send you a large thermometer for Gobbler’s Knob instead that reads, “If it’s still cold, it’s still winter,” which would aptly represent the absurdity of the current form of this tired old spectacle. We look forward to hearing from you, as always.

Very truly yours,

Ingrid Newkirk

President