Erin Lanahan 
With this winter storm behind us, several of us are looking forward to warmer days. Soon enough, we’ll have groundhogs all over the country come out of their homes and tell us if there will be six more weeks of winter or an early spring. Yet, not as many groundhogs are popping up during these celebrations to predict the next few weeks of weather in New Jersey. The New York Times recently explored why New Jersey seems to be running out of groundhogs. The Local Girl found that this isn’t because of a shortage of furry friends, but instead, strict state laws are coming into play. Here’s what we know about the cause behind the lack of Groundhog Day celebrations in New Jersey.
Groundhog Day In New Jersey
A once-popular Groundhog Celebration in New Jersey took place in a little town in Middlesex County called Milltown, the home of Milltown Mel. Mel was a groundhog who was the star of the show each Groundhog Day, coming out of his home to predict the weather for the remainder of the winter season.
Sadly, Milltown Mel passed in January of 2022, just days before Groundhog Day. On Facebook, his wranglers said, “Considering the average lifespan of a Groundhog is about 3 years, that is not such a shock, but Mel left us at a tough time of year, when most of his fellow groundhogs are hibernating…so no babies will be available to replace him until this Spring. We tried everywhere to get a stand-in, but to no avail!”
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Milltown has canceled its event every year since then because it has not been able to find a replacement for Mel. It’s due in part to strict state laws that ban the import of most wild rodents, such as in southern states. The law aims to prevent rabies transmission.
In 2023, Milltown Mel’s wranglers thought they had found a suitable groundhog replacement and planned to continue with the festivities. The State got word of the new groundhog and shut down the celebration days before the ceremony. His wranglers posted an update, “The new groundhog we originally scheduled to have made his debut is currently not allowed to be here according to a New Jersey state statute. We have been trying to find a replacement that the state will approve of, but we could not make it happen in time for this year.”
In 2024, Assemblyman Sterley Stanley introduced legislation that would give an exemption to the ban under certain circumstances, so the town could replace the groundhog in time for their Groundhog Day celebration.
Governor Phil Murphy vetoed the bill out of concern for public safety before leaving office in 2026. In a statement, the former governor said, “The State must uphold its obligation to protect the people and animals of New Jersey from exposure to diseases, such as new or different strains of rabies found in other states. And the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife must maintain its focus on protecting and managing wildlife, which includes ensuring that animals are not kept under conditions that infringe on their natural behaviors and environment.”
It’s unclear what Milltown’s plans are for Groundhog Day this year. In 2025, the wranglers posted an update saying they were still searching for a new groundhog meteorologist, saying, “Although we appreciate the many texts and DM’s, we CANNOT accept your offers for a groundhog from under your porch or in your backyard. We have every intention of obtaining one ethically and legally.”
TLG has reached out to organizers for more information and will update this piece when we hear back.
Other groundhog meteorologists in New Jersey include Stonewall Jackson (VI), who predicted an early spring in 2025 at Space Farms in Sussex, NJ. There is also Lady Edwina of Essex, who predicted an early spring in 2025 at Turtle Back Zoo in West Orange, NJ.
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