The animal rights organization, PETA, has suggested a unique replacement for the time-honored Groundhog Day tradition: a vegan cake. They've proposed delivering a "Weather Reveal" vegan cake annually to the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club if they allow Punxsutawney Phil and his family to retire to a sanctuary.

PETA argues that the yearly ceremony is stressful for Phil, a naturally shy prey animal. They cite the loud crowds, flashing lights, and overall disruption to his natural instincts as reasons for his retirement. In their official communication with the Groundhog Club, PETA highlighted the groundhog's preference to avoid human interaction, create burrows, and hibernate, activities he's unable to fully engage in due to his role as the town's "fake meteorologist."

PETA president Ingrid Newkirk emphasized the need to prioritize Phil's well-being, suggesting that allowing him to live a natural life would be a positive change. They believe this move would set a precedent for kinder traditions that don't involve exploiting animals.

This isn't PETA's first attempt to change Groundhog Day. In the past, they proposed using a large gold coin in place of a live groundhog. The organization believes it's time to evolve beyond using animals for this annual weather prediction event.

As a reminder, Groundhog Day, celebrated since 1887, revolves around the tradition of observing Punxsutawney Phil's reaction to his shadow. If he sees it, six more weeks of winter are predicted; if not, an early spring is anticipated. In 2024, Phil did not see his shadow, signaling an early spring.