Spike The Hedge Hog Will be Master Of Ceremonies for Groundhog Day at Kansas City Zoo

By Julie Neemeyer

Kansas City, MO - Join us at the Kansas City Zoo on Tuesday, February 2 at 10 a.m., as we celebrate Groundhog Day Zoo-style with Spike, our Hedgehog. Spike the Hedgehog is one of the Zoo’s Education Ambassadors. And, for his second year, he is going to appear from his “hibernation” to celebrate Groundhog Day. With the assistance from Randy Wisthoff, Zoo Director, Spike hopes he will not see his shadow so perfect Zoo-weather will be in sight and the end of winter is near.

Why the hedgehog? It is believed that the early Romans observed Hedgehog Day. If its shadow was seen it was predicted that six more weeks of bad winter weather would occur, a second winter. When the tradition moved to North America, Groundhog Day was named since hedgehogs were not a native species.

Kansas City Zoo is open daily from 9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. Admission is only $5, now through February 28; as always, FOTZ members are free. Call (816) 513-5800, or visit our web site www.kansascityzoo.org for more information.

To view Kansas City Zoo's web page on Zoo and Aquarium Visitor, go to:  http://www.zandavisitor.com/forumtopicdetail-3227-The_Kansas_City_Zoo