DUNKIRK DAVE
.... The Second Most Famous Weather Predicting Groundhog
Dunkirk Dave & Bob
[the 1st Cousin of Punxsutawney Phil]
- As told by Dunkirk Dave’s handler, Bob Will...........
As a young boy I brought home a sick and injured groundhog and nursed it
back to health after many months. Eventually, I released the groundhog back to
nature. During this time I researched groundhogs because it was difficult to
find anyone who knew anything about or even spoke well of groundhogs.
No one seemed to know anything or care about this special animal that I
discovered to be quite fascinating and unique. Throughout my teenage years
I studied groundhogs in the wild and wildlife journals. I was very happy that my
wonderful parents allowed me to take care of sick, injured and orphaned wildlife.
Dunkirk Dave and His Weather Predictions....
My familiarity with groundhogs continued during my college years studying to be a
teacher. Eventually I brought groundhogs into the classroom so the true facts about
them could be understood. Of course, every Groundhog Day a real groundhog would be
studied by students outside to see if there could be an accurate prediction of early
spring weather. I also became a State-licensed wildlife rehabilitator to legally care for
sick, injured, and orphaned wildlife. During this period of time, I met another person
interested in groundhogs and caring for wildlife– Bill Verge. Bill has been a valuable
assistant caring for all the groundhogs and other wildlife.
Now, I take care of small mammals, releasing them back to the wild whenever
possible. I have rehabilitated many groundhogs over the years. Consequently, there was
always a groundhog around to show students when I brought them to my classroom.
Leonard Catalano, head school custodian, mentioned this one groundhog visitor to our
local newspaper staff. One Groundhog Day, Ron Gustafson and Keith Sheldon, editors
for the Dunkirk Evening Observer, scheduled pictures, wrote the article, and named the
groundhog, “Dunkirk Dave”. After the original story was published, our local Dunkirk
Dave groundhog became well known. I have used Dunkirk Dave, a local groundhog for
over 58 years to predict the coming of spring weather. Dunkirk Dave is the second-
longest predicting groundhog. Also the only animal honored on the calendar is the
groundhog! Following a personal visit with Dunkirk Dave and family, Jeb Bobseine,
Massachusetts newspaper editor wrote “Every day is Groundhog Day at Bob Will’s
house.“
