The wacky, wonderful and surprisingly accurate tradition of Balzac Billy

Balzac Billy emerged from his burrow a pile of dirt outside a garden centre just north of Calgary to tell Albertans they could expect six more weeks of winter.

Known asthe "Prairie Prognosticator," the groundhog signals a thumbs down if he sees his shadow, ora thumbs up for no shadow andan early spring.

This year, it was thumbs down.

• Groundhog Day consensus foresees more winter

With an accuracy rate of over 80 per cent, it's a skill that his "colleagues" around North America such as Pennsylvania's Punxsutawney Phil, Ontario's Wiarton Willie or Nova Scotia's Shubenacadie Sam find impossible to match.

But then again Balzac Billy isn't exactly your typical groundhog.

First of all, he's more than six feet tall. It's a far cry from the furry critters hoisted up at otherFeb. 2 events.

The story goes that Albertansdidn't want to miss out on the Groundhog Day fun, so in the 1970s, they started to search for their own prognosticating gopher with their efforts being broadcast over the radio.

"Back then it was out on the fields, just on the outskirts of Balzac there, and it wasa real Richardson ground squirrel or gopher."

The event then moved to theBalzacgeneral store,before landing at the Bluegrass Garden Centre, complete with a pancake breakfast celebration.The costume came to be in 2004.

"It just became such a big event," said organizerSteveNeubauer.

"It's -11 C, it's dark, and people are out for a good time and a great breakfast and of course to hearBalzacBilly's annual prediction."

83.6%accuracy rate

Alberta does have groundhogs, an alternative name for woodchucks. According to Alberta Parks, they live in the "boreal forest, parkland and foothill natural regions where woodlots are broken by pastures and meadows."

An Environment Canada study found Groundhog Day groundhogs are actually poor prognosticatorscorrectly anticipating the length of the seasonabout 37 per cent of the time.

But that's not the case for Billy he's predicted correctly for the last three years in a row.

"He hit the ball right out of the park last year, as it was one of the earliest springs we've had," saidNeubauer, addinghe's running at about 83.6 per cent accuracy since they started tracking results.

Next year will be his 40thanniversary.

"We believe in our Billy."