Groundhog Day: mysterious rodent deaths and cover-ups plague ceremony

Wiarton citizens smelled a rat when Willie did not make an appearance at the virtual celebration last year

Every year in the Canadian town of Wiarton, devout followers of Wiarton Willie the albino groundhog learn from the rodent if the grip of winter is loosening.

The annual celebration is part of Groundhog Day, a North American tradition (and movie of the same name) which holds that if a groundhog sees its shadow after emerging from hibernation, six weeks more of winter weather are expected.