For over a century, Punxsutawney Phil has been the face of Groundhog Day—dragged out of his burrow, held up for cameras, and expected to predict the weather. But in Groundhog Day 2025, PETA says enough is enough.

Their solution? A vegan weather reveal cake. Yes, a cake. Instead of staring into the sleepy eyes of a baby groundhog, people would cut into a dessert—blue means six more weeks of winter, pink means an early spring.

The question is: Does this idea make sense, or is it just another publicity stunt?

Why PETA Wants to Retire Punxsutawney Phil

PETA isn’t just throwing this idea out there for fun. They argue that:

✅ Groundhogs are naturally shy animals—In the wild, they avoid humans like it’s their job. Being pulled out in front of a screaming crowd isn’t “cute,” it’s stressful.

✅ Phil isn’t really predicting anything—Let’s be real. We all know the event is just for show. The idea that Punxsutawney Phil Groundhog Day traditions actually determine the seasons? Yeah, no.

✅ Keeping him in captivity is unfair—Groundhogs love to burrow, hibernate, and roam. Phil? He’s stuck in a man-made enclosure year-round.

✅ A cake still keeps the tradition alive—It’s still a fun reveal, still gets people talking, and, as PETA puts it, still brings in the “tourism dough.”

But Wait—What’s Wrong With the Tradition?

Some people don’t see the problem. They argue that Punxsutawney Phil Groundhog Day is a harmless event, that Phil is well cared for, and that changing the tradition ruins the magic.

A few counterpoints to that:

❌ It’s not a natural life for Phil—He doesn’t get to hibernate properly. He doesn’t get to dig tunnels. He lives in an enclosure designed for human entertainment.

❌ The crowd, lights, and cameras? Major stress—Imagine waking up from a deep sleep and suddenly being shoved into a chaotic press conference. That’s Phil’s reality every year.

❌ Other animals have been phased out of entertainment—why not Phil?—Circuses stopped using elephants. SeaWorld faced backlash for keeping orcas. Isn’t it time to rethink the way we treat baby groundhogs too?

PETA’s History of Wild Groundhog Day Ideas

Believe it or not, this isn’t the first time PETA has tried to swap out Phil:

🔹 2024 – They suggested using a giant coin flip instead of a groundhog. (Tails for winter, heads for spring.)

🔹 2022 – They proposed using a persimmon tree to predict the weather.

🔹 2020 – They wanted an AI-powered animatronic groundhog to take Phil’s place.

Clearly, PETA isn’t giving up on this.

Will Groundhog Day 2025 Change Forever?

The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club hasn’t responded to PETA’s request. And let’s be honest—chances are slim that they’ll actually retire Phil for a cake.

But the conversation isn’t going away. More people are questioning whether the event is harmless fun or outdated animal exploitation.

At the very least, Groundhogs Day 2025 will come with more debate than usual. And whether you love the idea or think it’s absurd, one thing’s for sure: PETA knows how to get people talking.

So, what do you think? Keep Punxsutawney Phil, or cut the cake?