Ask any meteorologist: one of the most exciting days of the year is February 2, Groundhog Day. But in Texas, it’s known as Armadillo Day!

While most eyes are on Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, Texans shift their attention to Bee Cave, Texas. This is where Bee Cave Bob the Armadillo travels from his permanent home in Katy, Texas, to predict the changing seasons.

What You Need To Know

  • The armadillo is pre-historic, evolving around 50 million years ago

  • It’s the official Texas state mammal

  • Armadillo is Spanish for "little armored one"

The first Armadillo Day took place in 2010 in Bee Cave, which is also called "The West Pole." On May 31, 2007, the Texas state legislature officially recognized the town as our planet’s geographical western pole on the 98th meridian. Why? To add to the greatness of Texas!

When compared to our other forecasting friend, the groundhog, the armadillo is bigger. A groundhog is about 16 inches long and around eight to nine pounds. On average, the armadillo is 23 inches long and weighs about 14 pounds. The saying is true – everything is bigger in Texas.

On Armadillo Day, Bee Cave Bob emerges from a tube on a track set up for the occasion. If the armadillo wanders out of the tube and stays out, an early spring is on is way. If Bob ducks back into the tube, then we have six more weeks of winter coming for Texas.

Even if Punxsutawney Phil, Bee Cave Bob, or Arboretum Annie see their shadow, the official start of spring is about six-and-a-half weeks away on March 20.

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