Groundhog Bites Mayor

Everyone knows what it means when a groundhog sees his shadow. But what does the future hold if he bites the mayor's hand?

Staten Island's famous groundhog, Charles G. Hogg, inexplicably bit Mayor Michael Bloomberg during his annual holiday ceremony on
Monday, drawing blood from the billionaire.

"It nicked his hand," Bloomberg spokesman Stu Loeser said.
 
Bloomberg wrapped the cut with a napkin until he could check with his doctor.

He was told there was no risk of rabies. The 2-year-old "Chuck" was born and raised in captivity and has had no interaction with other animals.

Maybe Chuck was upset about taking a backseat to media darling Punxsutawney Phil.

Phil saw his shadow, which is supposed to mean six more weeks of winter. But Chuck, "speaking" through Mayor Bloomberg, saw "absolutely no shadow."

If you're wondering how to plan ahead, bear in mind that Phil has been right only 37 percent of the time -- worse than a coin toss could hope to do -- while the mighty Chuck has logged an 85-percent success rate.

Bloomberg, noting the City Council's funding powers, said Chuck had better be right.

“If Chuck embarrasses us, this is going to be a very long winter for the Staten Island Zoo,” Bloomberg quipped.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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