Quebec's beloved Fred la Marmotte dies on Groundhog Day

Fred la Marmotte, Quebec’s beloved groundhog who predicts whether spring will come early, was found dead early Thursday, just hours before he was supposed to perform his annual ritual.

“This year, things will be done differently,” said la Jour de Fred committee organizer Roberto Blondin on the event’s livestream.

“I’m announcing the death of Fred. It’s sadly true.”

Children and adults attending the early morning ceremony gasped when they heard the shocking news.

“Everyone was very sad, you could see it on their faces,” said Renée Laurendeau, a spokesperson for the event, which is held every Feb. 2 in the Gaspé town of Val d’Espoir.

A child attending the ceremony was called in as an emergency replacement. She was handed a stuffed toy groundhog and predicted that winter will continue.