(Lander, WY) – USA Today recently announced its list of most accurate “fuzzy forecasters” for Groundhog Day 2026, and Lander/Fremont County/Wyoming’s own Lander Lil made the top three, with a 75% prediction accuracy rating.
USA Today caught wind of Lander Lil after the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) ranked Lil higher than the more well-known Punxsutawney Phil last year, who, it should be noted, saw his shadow and predicted six more weeks of winter for 2026 today.
“In honor of Groundhog Day and in the spirit of fun, we pitted groundhogs from all over the United States against each other — and data from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information — to see who’s the most accurate,” NOAA’s write-up from last year informs.
Nineteen groundhogs and “alternative groundhogs” (including Lil and even a Tortoise) were selected for the competition last year, with the qualifications being “they must have been prognosticating for at least 20 years.”
County 10 caught up with Lander Lil this morning, who said, “Wait, it’s Winter?” after taking off her shades and playing with a beach ball. We asked if spring was coming sooner, or if we were actually going to get some late-season snow, and the fuzzy forecaster said, “Who knows? It’s Wyoming…”
Accurate prediction indeed, Lil!
Here’s USA Todays full list:
- Staten Island Chuck – 85%
- General Beauregard Lee – 80%
- Lander Lil – 75%
- Concord Charlie – 65%
- Gertie the Groundhog – 65%
- Jimmy the Groundhog – 60%
- Woodstock Willie – 60%
- Buckeye Chuck – 55%
- French Creek Freddie – 55%
- Malverne Mel – 55%
- Octoraro Orphie –- 52.63%
- Dunkirk Dave – 50%
- Holtsville Hal – 50%
- Poor Richard – 50%
- Uni the Groundhog – 47.37%
- Schnogadahl Sammi – 38.89%
- Punxsutawney Phil – 35%
- Woody the Woodchuck – 35%
- Mojave Max – 25%