Credit: CMNH
The Cleveland Museum of Natural History announced this week that their beloved groundhog, Lake Erie Eddie, died last month. He was 9.

Eddie had become something of a celebrity around the museum. He was brought in as an orphan from Pepper Pike, and, over the years, he garnered a devoted following and he spurred the creation of Groundhog Fun Day.

Eddie is survived by Thistle the Whistlepig, another previously orphaned groundhog now living at the museum.

From Eddie’s CMNH family: “Eddie’s life at the museum was long and healthy, and he touched the lives of countless visitors and staff members alike. Eddie was an excellent ambassador for the groundhog species and educated people for nearly a decade with his exuberant personality. He will be greatly missed.”

Eric Sandy is an award-winning Cleveland-based journalist. For a while, he was the managing editor of Scene. He now contributes jam band features every now and then.