All eyes are on ‘General Lee’ as Groundhog Day approaches

groundhog day PUNXSUTAWNEY, PA - FEBRUARY 2: Groundhog handler Ron Ploucha holds Punxsutawney Phil after he saw his shadow predicting six more weeks of winter during 131st annual Groundhog Day festivities on February 2, 2017 in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Groundhog Day is a popular tradition in the United States and Canada. A smaller than usual crowd this year of less than 20,000 people spent a night of revelry awaiting the sunrise and the groundhog's exit from his winter den. If Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow he regards it as an omen of six more weeks of bad weather and returns to his den. Early spring arrives if he does not see his shadow, causing Phil to remain above ground. (Photo by Jeff Swensen/Getty Images) (Jeff Swensen)

By Sabrina Cupit

Friday, February 2nd is Groundhog Day! All eyes are on that big rodent, General Beauregard Lee, to see if we will have an early spring or not.  This year, General Lee has a new home.

He's at DausetTrails Nature Center in Jackson , Georgia. The tiny town of Jackson is usually know for executions that are carried out at the state prison, but "General Lee" may now be the town's new claim to fame.

“The last time I checked he was still asleep,”  said Ike English, Director of Dauset Trails Nature Center. “

“He’s got a nice fluffy comfortable bed and he’s just snoozing away.”

English says he's been getting calls from media all across the nation looking for places to stay as they aim their cameras on this southern born rodent weather prognosticator.

“Who knows how many people are coming ,” says English. “I’ve had calls from out of state from about 20 different people wanting to know where to stay locally.”

All eyes are on ‘General Lee’ as Groundhog Day approaches

According to Groundhog Day lore, if General Lee sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter for the southeastern United States. If he does not see his shadow, warm weather is near and spring will arrive early.

“Sunrise is 7:33 am Friday and General Lee will come out around that time, give or take a few minutes,” English said.

General Lee will be lured out with Waffle House hash browns, English said, a trick that's worked in the past. Those scattered, smothered and covered hash browns could entice rodents and humans alike to do mist anything !

Pennsylvania's Punxsutawney Phil will also make his weather prediction Friday. According to the National Weather Service, the forecast for Friday morning in Punxsutawney, Pa., calls for cloudy skies and a chance of snow showers. Here in Georgia, the weather calls for partly to mostly cloudy skies in the morning.

For the record, spring doesn't officially arrive this year until March 20.

“It’s whether or not he sees his shadow,” English said. “If he sees his shadow, sorry to say but it’s six more weeks of winter. And if he doesn’t, that means spring is just around the corner.”