Beavers and swans showing signs of potential early spring

Never mind the groundhog, a local wildlife rehabilitation centre says that some of its animals are showing signs that spring weather may be just around the corner.

"We've been keeping an eye out on the behaviour of the animals and even though we don't have a groundhog we have been seeing some positive signs," says Zoe Nakata, the Executive Director of Wildlife Haven Rehabilitation Centre in Ile des Chenes, Man.

Each year Groundhog Day is February 2 and the idea is that if the groundhog comes out of its hole and sees their shadow, there will be six more weeks of wintery weather. If he doesn't, it's said that spring will arrive early. 

"With some of our swan patients, they've been noticeably more active in the afternoons and hanging out by the big windows, and kind of itching to get outside. So we take that as a pretty positive sign that nice weather is around the corner," says Nakata.

The centre takes in all sorts of animals throughout the year. However, when they take in migrating animals in the late fall, they have to stay until spring to make sure they have the best chance, like the pelicans and swans in their centre right now. 

"We've got two beaver patients actually and they've been more and more active."

While beavers aren't known to hibernate, they often stay in the den for the most part, where they've stored up food for the cold months, which means they are not overly active. 

"We take that as a little hint that maybe they have some of that groundhog instinct, so we're hopeful."