善待动物组织推动退休庞克瑟托尼·菲尔 引发罕见两党反对
民主党州长乔希·夏皮罗和共和党议员在这只著名土拨鼠最新的冬季预测后，共同抵制善待动物组织要求其退休的呼吁
作者：查尔斯·克里茨
福克斯新闻
发布于 2026年2月2日 上午11:11（东部标准时间）| 更新于 2026年2月2日 下午12:40（东部标准时间）
[人群涌向庞克瑟托尼参加年度土拨鼠日庆典]
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宾夕法尼亚州的民主党人和共和党人找到了罕见的共同点——捍卫庞克瑟托尼·菲尔，抵御动物权利活动人士的批评。
州长乔希·夏皮罗（民主党）和共和党议员共同拒绝了善待动物组织（PETA）在周一预测再六周冬季后要求这只著名土拨鼠退休的压力。
夏皮罗在社交媒体上发布了一张黄色加兹登旗图片——这是与保守政治和2010年代茶党运动相关的象征——但通常的蛇被土拨鼠取代，以此放大这一时刻。
[土拨鼠日：庞克瑟托尼·菲尔进行第140次天气预测]
[图片1]
2026年2月2日（周一），在宾夕法尼亚州庞克瑟托尼的 Gobbler’s Knob，土拨鼠俱乐部管理员A.J.德雷梅（A.J. Dereume）抱着预测天气的土拨鼠庞克瑟托尼·菲尔，庆祝第140届土拨鼠日。菲尔的管理员称这只土拨鼠预测到还将有六个星期的冬天。（美联社照片/巴里·雷格）
与此同时，宾夕法尼亚州众议院共和党核心小组领袖告诉福克斯新闻数字版，PETA最新提出的用土拨鼠全息图取代菲尔的想法是错误的。
贝德福德的众议院少数党领袖杰西·托珀（Jesse Topper）表示：”PETA在这里既缺乏好品味，也缺乏可信度。庞克瑟托尼·菲尔和土拨鼠日庆祝活动是宾夕法尼亚人身份认同的核心部分，受到全国人民的珍视。”
托珀补充道：”此外，菲尔被当作王室成员对待，这是理所当然的。”他提到菲尔有宽敞的图书馆住所，还包括一扇大窗户，能让阳光和路人的笑容照进来。
“听起来，是时候让PETA从错误观点和离奇看法中’强制退休’了。”
PETA在一份声明中表示，它希望给土拨鼠日一个”急需的焕新”。
[图片2]
2023年2月2日，在宾夕法尼亚州庞克瑟托尼的 Gobbler’s Knob，土拨鼠俱乐部管理员A.J.德雷梅抱着预测天气的土拨鼠庞克瑟托尼·菲尔，庆祝第137届土拨鼠日。（美联社照片/巴里·雷格，档案照片）
PETA在声明中说：”让菲尔退休到一个有信誉的保护区与家人团聚，我们将提供一个巨大的、最先进的3D投影土拨鼠全息图，并通过语音预测照亮Gobbler’s Knob舞台。”
宾夕法尼亚州副旅游部长安妮·瑞安在声明中表示，庞克瑟托尼·菲尔”每年都吸引着全国和国际关注”。
瑞安说：”再六个星期的冬天意味着有更多时间享受这个季节的一切——从滑雪和单板滑雪到舒适的小镇、历史遗迹和节日冬季活动。”她暗指该州最新的旅游口号——”伟大的美国度假胜地”。
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[图片3]
庞克瑟托尼·菲尔与妻子菲利斯（Phyllis）和年幼的土拨鼠幼崽住在庞克瑟托尼市中心的杰斐逊县图书馆，位于阿尔图纳和伊利之间。
这只著名土拨鼠的支持远远超出了它的洞穴。在宾夕法尼亚州历史上的德国地区，包括利哈伊谷和荷兰地区，超过十几个”Grundsau Lodsch”（土拨鼠协会）举办盛宴，庆祝土拨鼠日，这些盛宴以传统食物、音乐和用宾夕法尼亚德语方言播报的天气预报为特色。
还有1993年比尔·默里主演的以这个节日命名的著名电影。
查尔斯·克里茨是福克斯新闻数字版的记者。
他于2013年加入福克斯新闻，担任撰稿人和制作助理。
查尔斯为福克斯新闻数字版报道媒体、政治和文化。
查尔斯是宾夕法尼亚州本地人，毕业于天普大学，获广播新闻学士学位。新闻线索可发送至charles.creitz@fox.com。
Josh Shapiro, Republicans defend Punxsutawney Phil after PETA criticism | Fox News
PETA’s push to retire Punxsutawney Phil sparks rare bipartisan backlash
Democratic Gov Josh Shapiro and Republican lawmakers push back against PETA’s call to retire the famed groundhog after his latest winter prediction
By Charles Creitz
Fox News
Published February 2, 2026 11:11am EST | Updated February 2, 2026 12:40pm EST
[Crowds flock to Punxsutawney for annual Groundhog Day celebration]
Fox News senior meteorologist Janice Dean joins ‘Fox & Friends Weekend’ for the annual Groundhog Day celebration in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.
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Pennsylvania Democrats and Republicans are finding rare common ground — defending Punxsutawney Phil from animal rights activists.
Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) and GOP lawmakers are jointly rejecting pressure from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) to retire the famed groundhog after he predicted six more weeks of winter on Monday.
Shapiro amplified the moment on social media by posting an image of a yellow Gadsden flag — a symbol associated with conservative politics and the 2010s Tea Party movement — but with the typical snake replaced by a groundhog.
[GROUNDHOG DAY: PUNXSUTAWNEY PHIL MAKES 140TH WEATHER PREDICTION]
[Image 1]
Groundhog Club handler A.J. Dereume holds Punxsutawney Phil, the weather prognosticating groundhog, during the 140th celebration of Groundhog Day on Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pa., Monday, Feb. 2, 2026. Phil’s handlers said the groundhog forecast six more weeks of winter.(AP Photo/Barry Reeger)
Meanwhile, the leader of the Pennsylvania House Republican caucus told Fox News Digital that PETA’s latest idea, to replace Phil with a groundhog hologram, is off base.
“PETA lacks as much good taste as they do credibility here. Punxsutawney Phil and the celebration of Groundhog Day are core parts of what it means to be Pennsylvanian and are cherished by the nation,” said House Minority Leader Jesse Topper of Bedford.
“On top of that, Phil is treated like royalty, and rightfully so,” Topper said, referencing his spacious library digs that also include a large window allowing sunlight and the smiles of passersby.
“It sounds like it is time PETA be forcibly retired from bad takes and outlandish viewpoints.”
In a statement, PETA said it wants to give Groundhog Day a “much-needed glow-up.”
[Image 2]
Groundhog Club handler A.J. Dereume holds Punxsutawney Phil, the weather prognosticating groundhog, during the 137th celebration of Groundhog Day on Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pa., Feb. 2, 2023.(AP Photo/Barry Reeger, File)
“Retire Phil to a reputable sanctuary with his family,and we’ll provide a giant, state-of-the-art, 3-D projection hologram of a groundhog along with a vocal prognostication to light up the Gobbler’s Knob stage,” PETA said in a statement.
Pennsylvania Deputy Tourism Secretary Anne Ryan said in a statement that Punxsutawney Phil “draws national and international attention” to Pennsylvania every year.
“Six more weeks of winter means more time to enjoy everything that makes this season special — from skiing and snowboarding to cozy small towns, historic sites, and festive winter events,” Ryan said, alluding to the commonwealth’s latest tourism slogan, “The Great American Getaway.”
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[Image 3]
Punxsutawney Phil lives with his wife Phyllis and their young kit at the Jefferson County Library in downtown Punxsutawney, halfway between Altoona and Erie.
The famed groundhog’s support extends well beyond his burrow. Across Pennsylvania’s historically German regions, including the Lehigh Valley and Dutch Country, Groundhog Day is marked by feasts hosted by more than a dozen “Grundsau Lodsch,” or Groundhog Lodges, featuring traditional food, music and weather forecasts delivered in the Pennsylfaanisch dialect.
There is also the famous 1993 Bill Murray film named after the holiday.
Charles Creitz is a reporter for Fox News Digital.
He joined Fox News in 2013 as a writer and production assistant.
Charles covers media, politics and culture for Fox News Digital.
Charles is a Pennsylvania native and graduated from Temple University with a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism. Story tips can be sent to charles.creitz@fox.com.