When we think of Groundhog Day, 2 things come to mind: The classic movie and our shadow-seeing friend. Murray’s character, Phil, is a local weatherman. We guess you could consider the groundhog to be an occasional weatherman. But what else do these holiday favorites have in common? Here are 3 toothy commonalities between the movie and the animal:
The Movie: The days grow.
The Animal: Their teeth grow.
Throughout the film, the number of Groundhog Days keeps growing for Bill Murray. The same rings true for groundhog teeth! Groundhogs have 2 upper incisors that continuously grow 1/16 of an inch every week! To keep the growth in check, groundhogs must constantly chew on leaves or grass. They also spend a good amount of time nibbling at trees or roots so that the teeth can be worn down.
The Movie: Phil binges breakfast.
The Animal: Binges for every meal.
When Phil realizes he’s going to live the same day for the rest of his life, he eats a table full of pancakes, ice cream, fries and everything in between. Because groundhogs hibernate for so long, they need to eat a lot of food when they’re awake. Though healthier than Phil’s, their binge sessions can last for 2 hours!
The Movie: Phil gets hurt.
The Animal: Their teeth get hurt.
From getting slapped repeatedly to driving off a cliff, Phil experiences his fair share of ouch-worthy moments. But our furry little friends don’t have enamel on their back teeth, which can also lead to some painful outcomes. If groundhogs don’t keep them trim, their teeth can impale their lower jaw!
Whether you watch the movie or the actual hog this Groundhog Day, enjoy February 2 with a smile!