'Ms. G,' the official groundhog of Mass., to test her shadow Sunday

After missing last year’s event due to illness, Ms. G, Massachusetts’ official state groundhog, is back and ready to make her prediction on Feb. 2 at Drumlin Farm in Lincoln. For the 17th year, she'll emerge to determine whether the state will face six more weeks of winter or have an early spring.

Last year, Ms. G was unable to make her usual outdoor appearance due to illness, leading organizers to hold a modified, indoor version of the event. But organizers said the rodent was hale and healthy and ready to once again prognosticate al fresco.

The event, hosted by Mass Audubon, will feature a lineup of speakers, including State Rep. Alice Peisch, Mass Audubon President David O’Neill, and other local officials.

Beyond Ms. G’s forecast, families can try a variety of educational activities and encounters with other wildlife. Horseshoe crabs and other animal “ambassadors” will be on hand, giving children and visitors a chance to learn more about New England’s diverse ecosystem. And Ms. G will be available to meet visitors after she makes her prediction.

“She's very sociable,” said Tia Pinney, a field naturalist at Drumlin Farm.

Ms. G was named the state’s official groundhog in 2014, following a campaign by local students who wanted Massachusetts to have its own weather-predicting rodent instead of relying on Pennsylvania’s Punxsutawney Phil.

The event kicks off at 10 a.m., with Ms. G’s big moment expected later in the morning.