Georgia's General Beauregard 'Beau' Lee preparing for Groundhog Day prediction on Feb. 2

JACKSON, Ga. - Georgia’s very own groundhog, General Beauregard "Beau" Lee, is gearing up to make his big weather prediction on Feb. 2 at Dauset Trails Nature Center in Jackson, about an hour south of Atlanta. Like his more famous "cousin," Punxsutawney Phil, Beau will decide if winter will linger for six more weeks or if spring is on its way.

Who is General Beauregard Lee?

What we know:

Beau is no ordinary groundhog — he’s the South’s official weather prognosticator, continuing a tradition that started in 1981. Named after two Confederate generals, Robert E. Lee and P.G.T. Beauregard, Beau took over from his ancestor in 1991 and now lives in style at Dauset Trails in his custom antebellum mansion, Weathering Heights.

Beau’s previous home at Yellow River Wildlife Sanctuary in Gwinnett County closed in 2017, but he’s been thriving in his new digs ever since.

A Little History

The backstory:

Groundhog Day traces its roots to ancient Celtic traditions, where Imbolc marked the midway point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. Early Christians celebrated Candlemas around the same time, and German immigrants brought the custom of weather-forecasting animals to America, swapping European hedgehogs and badgers for the native groundhog.

Pennsylvania's Punxsutawney Phil has been at it since 1887, but Georgia’s Beau gives him a run for his money — especially in the accuracy department.

Is Beau More Accurate?

What they're saying:

According to a 2022 study by FiveThirtyEight.com, Beau boasts a 63% accuracy rate for predictions from 2012 to 2021, outshining Phil’s 45.5%. The Dauset Trails Nature Center claims Beau’s accuracy is even higher, somewhere in the 90% range.

Fun Facts About Groundhogs

• Groundhogs, also called woodchucks or whistlepigs, are the largest members of the squirrel family.
• They hibernate in a coma-like state, with heart rates dropping to five beats per minute.
• Groundhogs can lose up to 30% of their body weight during hibernation.
• A groundhog’s top incisors grow 1/16 of an inch per week!
• Beau’s favorite hobbies? Digging tunnels, napping, and enjoying raw peanuts and corn on the cob.

Want to See Beau in Action?

What you can do:

Head to Dauset Trails Nature Center (101 Whistlepig Way, Jackson) on Feb. 2. The gates open at 6 a.m., and Beau will make his prediction at 7:30 a.m.

You can grab souvenir shirts, food, and drinks while you’re there. And don’t worry — "Ol’ Beau" might be over 30 years old, but the nature center assures us he’s as timeless as ever!

So, mark your calendars and get ready to cheer on Georgia’s beloved weather prophet this Groundhog Day!