Punxsutawney Phil, the iconic groundhog of Groundhog Day fame, is traditionally claimed to be around 139 years old as of 2026, based on the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club's whimsical lore dating back to 1887.

Legendary Age

This age isn't literal—it's part of the fun mythos where Phil supposedly drinks an "elixir of life" each summer to stay immortal for his weather predictions. In reality, groundhogs live 6-14 years (wild vs. captivity), so the "Phil" role passes to successors, though handlers insist it's the same eternal critter.

Groundhog Day Context

Today, February 2, 2026, marks the latest Gobbler's Knob ceremony in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, where Phil emerges to "see his shadow" (or not), forecasting 6 more weeks of winter or early spring. The event draws thousands, boosted by the 1993 film Groundhog Day , and Phil even has a "wife" named Phyllis plus recent twins named Sunny and Shadow.

Fun Facts and Debates

  • Handlers' Club : 15 tuxedo-clad Inner Circle members care for Phil, interpreting his "scroll" predictions.
  • Criticism : PETA questions the tradition's ethics due to crowd stress on the animal.
  • Multiple Phils? : Forums buzz with speculation—some say it's always one Phil via elixir, others note replacements happen quietly.

Claimed Age| Real Groundhog Lifespan| Tradition Start
---|---|---
139 years (2026) 5| 6-14 years 1| 1887 3

TL;DR : Phil's "age" is folklore fun at ~139; biologically, it's a rotating cast of groundhogs.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.