Overview

• PETA has urged the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club to retire Punxsutawney Phil, citing concerns over the groundhog's welfare during the annual event.
• The organization suggests replacing Phil with a vegan 'Weather Reveal' cake, which would indicate seasonal predictions through colored layers inside the cake.
• PETA argues that the tradition is stressful for Phil, a shy prey animal, as he is exposed to loud crowds and bright lights against his natural instincts.
• The group has made similar proposals in the past, including using an animatronic groundhog or a giant coin for weather predictions.
• Groundhog Day, a tradition dating back to 1887, attracts thousands of visitors to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, each year and is a key tourism event for the town.