Teche Area residents can expect a longer, hotter and more humid summer this year, according to local nutria forecaster Pierre C. Shadeaux.

The Cajun Groundhog saw his shadow Sunday morning and reported his experience to The Daily Iberian staff.

Sunday was Groundhog Day, but this year, Shadeaux did not make his prediction during the usual public ceremony in Bouligny Plaza.

Advertisement

Those who are familiar with the history of the local Cajun Groundhog will recall how Pierre considers himself much more civilized than some of the other weather predicting animals, especially that Yankee groundhog up in Pennsylvania. That's why Pierre usually makes his prediction after 8 a.m. on Groundhog Day, while others get out at sunrise to make their predictions.

Pierre likes to sleep a bit later, and likes to give his admiring public a bit of a break so they don't have to get up so early to see him. This year, with Groundhog Day on a Sunday, there were just too many conflicts with church and other activities. And Pierre likes to sleep late on Sunday mornings, so while he shared his weather predictions with us here at The Daily Iberian, there wasn't a public ceremony.

But we do plan to be back at Bouligny Plaza next year with all the pomp and circumstance that has come to be associated with Cajun Groundhog Day.