N.J.’s weather-predicting groundhog Milltown Mel dies before his big day

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The groundhog from Central New Jersey has been taking part in Groundhog Day ceremonies in Central New Jersey for the past six years.

Mel recently passed away, according to a post on his official Facebook page.

“We Wranglers are sad to report that Milltown Mel recently crossed over the rainbow bridge,” the group posted on Facebook Sunday night. “Considering the average lifespan of a Groundhog is about 3 years, that is not such a shock, but Mel left us at a tough time of year, when most of his fellow groundhogs are hibernating... so no babies will be available to replace him until this spring.”

The group, which did not say what day the groundhog died, noted it “tried everywhere to get a stand-in, but to no avail!” It added: “We will work hard on getting us a new weather prognosticator for next year, till then please check out what all of Mel’s cousins have to say on Feb 2nd.” Milltown Mel took part in the borough’s annual Groundhog Day ceremony during each of the past six years, according to a. The borough’s original Milltown Mel died in the summer of 2015 after several years of seeking his shadow.

Mel is not New Jersey’s first Groundhog Day participant to pass away shortly before his big day in the spotlight. Stonewall Jackson, a groundhog who handled the annual weather forecast at the Space Farms Zoo and Museum in Sussex County, died on the

 

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He's not dead! Ask Maggie from Milltown.

Sooooo is this a sign?

Amy did it again.

He has only been a shadow of his former self lately anyway.

Uh oh.. shitty weather for six weeks, extremely shitty weather.🥶

Well shoot. I guess I won’t get out of bed tomorrow now that there’s no forecast. Damn.

2022.

😪 RIP Milltown Mel, you were adorable ❤

Sure can be a tough life for any mammal in NJ

Where was DeBlasio?

Covid?

If the groundhog dies, that means asteroid ☄️

Can we contract the World Cup octopus if need be?

Poor f***ing groundhog.

OMG! We're doomed!!!!!

Well he ain’t seeing his shadow. Early spring it is.

😢

Adios, everybody. It's been fun, hasn't it?

Ugh

Perpetual Winter! Good news for Climate Change! (only for the Northern Hemisphere, I guess) Also, RIP Milltown Mel.

Mel, you had one job.

Means we'll all be dead by summer.

Am I the only person who didn't know we had a groundhog?

Whoop there it is

Little guy knew too much.

Not even he could take the cold!

Mattylight_12 RIP In peace king 👑

Spring is coming early.

L + Ratio+ punxsutawney phil better

wizardmorty LilDickRandy it’s a heavy day

is taht good?

I guess the groundhog was feeling a little………………….. under the weather YEAH!😎

This seems more like a 2020 headline.

Why does NJ have a Phil knockoff anyway? Nevertheless, RIP little king.

I thought his name was punchatony Paul

More like “was killed”

I know that photo's from five years ago, but my first thought was ' .. was John Lithgow in Groundhog Day? '

NJ has no back up ground hog? Have we no resources at all?

UH OH. Permanent Winter?

Big Pux smoking that Milltown Melly pack

Two weeks till we all die, mark your calendars

Running from the shadow...into shadow. Apt Prophetic? Worrisome? All of the above. 2022

the great resignation

guess he didnt see it coming

🤷🏼‍♂️

Who is the backup? Ohhh, sorry, is there a backup?

NJ will now suffer the forever winter

probably fine

iamdcabby

At least Mel is in a better place. No longer has to be scared about being man handled by a hairless ape dressed in black with a top hat.

Mel certainly didn’t see that coming.

Woodchucks are the worst. Only thing better than killing em to get em off yer property is trapping em, then releasing them in the nearest McMansion housing project.

Murphles44 ohhh no

It is not true that Bill DeBlasio was spotted nearby

Covid? 🤣🤣

Oh no 🙈

Did Murphy send them to NJ Nursing homes?

Sure sign The Long Winter is upon us...

awe! 😢

What does it mean when the groundhog dies!? I guess we really are DOOMED!!

It's going to be a long cold winter

2022 is the year of the Understudy.

mobileseaman i killed him

So 2022.

Uh oh NJ is now doomed ;(

😂😂😂

RIP

Awwww....sorry to hear about Milltown Mel!

Wait... It was always the same groundhog 🤯

:(

Good move Mel...RIP finally!

So, no spring?

That’s not a good sign.

Jzhskshedhe

I’m not an expert, but that’s not good…

Welcome to 2022… damn. Rip Mel

Covid related? 🤷🏻‍♂️

Oh thank god

The culprit found! RIP Mel.

Also 'Groundhogs Day is racist'

Is this TheOnion

Put me in coach, I’m ready

SerraRob in accordance with what we think your dying wishes might well have been, we commit your final mortal remains to the bosom of the Pacific Ocean, which you loved so well. Good night, sweet prince

NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!

Lmao why do I find this funny

He got tired of making the wrong prediction

What does that mean? 6 more years of Murphy?

What did he have on the Clinton's?

We’re all doomed

That means forever winter

Well that’s not a good sign!! RIP

Mel got out of his cage, was hit by a car. Death certificate says he died of Covid-19

So…he won’t see his shadow?

This is no good.

HardFactorPat HardFactorNews

These freakin Democrats killed him. Back in 2014 di Blasio killed Punxsutawney Phil the groundhog and the zoo covered it up. Look at di Blasio laughing as Phil plunges to his death.

Another victim on Murphy's watch

Does this mean the world ends?

That’s a good sign.

He must have forgot to wear his mask.

With Murphys teeth.. No problem it's covered...

Poor guy did his own research

Now we will never know how long winter will last 😢 🥶

Where’s DahBlasio? 😳🥴🤣

Bahahaha

Where was De Blasio?

A very dramatic way to retire. Poor baby.

😱

There won't be a spring.

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