The animal rights organization PETA has once again called for the retirement of Punxsutawney Phil, the famed groundhog who traditionally predicts the arrival of spring each February 2nd. Instead of using a live animal, PETA has proposed a novel alternative: a "weather reveal" cake.
In a letter to the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club, PETA President Ingrid Newkirk suggested replacing Phil with a specially designed cake. This cake, similar in concept to a gender reveal cake, would be cut open on Groundhog Day to reveal either blue filling (signifying six more weeks of winter) or pink filling (indicating an early spring).
Newkirk argued that the current Groundhog Day tradition exploits Phil, a naturally shy animal who would typically avoid human interaction. She highlighted the stress Phil likely endures due to the crowds, noise, and bright lights of the annual event. Newkirk emphasized that Phil's natural behaviors, such as hibernation and burrowing, are restricted due to his captivity.
This is not PETA's first attempt to change the Groundhog Day tradition. In previous years, they suggested replacing Phil with a large, gold coin for predicting the weather. They've also offered a large thermometer with the simple message, "If it's still cold, it's still winter," poking fun at the current practice.
PETA believes that using a cake, or another inanimate object, would allow the Groundhog Day festivities to continue while respecting Phil's well-being. They propose sending Phil to a reputable sanctuary where he could live out his life naturally. The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club has yet to publicly respond to PETA’s latest proposal.
