Official Chehaw prognosticator, Asante the meerkat, will serve as a substitute for the job’s customary species this Groundhog Day. Thursday, Feb. 2, the meerkats will be let loose at 9:30 a.m. to see if they can find their shadows.  If Asante reaches his sentry point without seeing his shadow we can look forward to an early spring.

Meerkats are small burrowing animals, living in large underground networks with multiple entrances which they leave only during the day. One meerkat stands sentry while others are foraging or playing, to alert them of approaching danger. When a threat is spotted, the sentry gives a warning bark, and other members of the gang will run and hide in one of the many holes they have spread across their territory. If there is no threat, the sentry meerkat stops signaling and the others feel safe to emerge.

For more information call 229.430.5275. Chehaw is located at 105 Chehaw Park Rd. in Albany, Georgia.