While Punxsutawney Phil predicts more winter, Audubon Zoo’s capybaras have their own prediction.
NEW ORLEANS — Punxsutawney Phil may be calling for six more weeks of winter, but Audubon Zoo’s capybaras are offering a much sunnier forecast for New Orleans this Groundhog Day.
In the zoo’s annual New Orleans-style take on the tradition, three young capybara born in 2025 made the official weather call by choosing between two local favorites: gumbo for more winter weather or snoballs for an early spring.
After some serious consideration, the trio ultimately went with snoballs, predicting spring is just around the corner.
The capybara pups, named Tiana, Charlotte and Louis after characters from the New Orleans–set Disney film “The Princess and the Frog,” made their forecast unanimously. Zoo officials said the animals initially seemed tempted by gumbo, suggesting winter might linger, but changed course and embraced snoball season in the end.
The three are following in the footsteps of their parents, who handled forecasting duties last year. Visitors can see the capybaras in the Jaguar Jungle River’s Edge exhibit at Audubon Zoo, where they share space with their parents and are expected to soon be joined by five new baby siblings.
So while Phil may be sticking with winter up north, Audubon Zoo’s capybaras are keeping it local with a prediction that spring in New Orleans is on the way.