Lambton County’s resident groundhog weather prognosticator says we’ll be having an early spring.

Harvey, from Heaven’s Wildlife Rescue in Oil Springs, did not see his shadow this morning according to Peggy Jenkins, signalling an early spring.

Harvey, fresh off his forecasting duties, made a stop at the Oil Museum of Canada Friday as part of a presentation on wildlife in the area.

Heaven’s Wildlife Rescue has been saving rescued animals in the region since 2011 and in 2014 Oil Springs Ollie began forecast on Groundhog Day in the tradition of Wiarton Willie. Ollie retired in 2021 and Harvey took over.

Harvey has been fulfilling the role of forecaster since then and he makes the rounds of local museums and schools as Jenkins and volunteers from the wildlife rescue talk to children about local wildlife and what they should do when they find them.