New Jersey Community Cancels Groundhog Day Celebration After Groundhog Dies

WANTAGE TOWNSHIP, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A New Jersey community's Groundhog Day celebration was canceled after its groundhog died.

Parker Space told the New Jersey Herald that he discovered Stonewall IV had died when he went to clean him Monday ahead of Tuesday's planned annual photo op.

"On a good note, at least Stonewall IV died peacefully in his sleep," Space told the Herald. "He didn't get dropped on his neck."

Space, a state assemblyman whose family owns Space Farms Zoo and Museum in Wantage Township, says the cause of Stonewall IV's death remains unclear. He was between 6 and 7 years old.

"They only live for so long," Space told the Herald. "We thought we'd get another year or so out of him, but Mother Nature had other ideas."

Stonewall IV hasn't always been in sync with the world's most famous groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil. He disagreed with his weather predictions in each of the last four years.

The family farm has held Groundhog Day festivities for nearly 25 years. The tradition comes from a Pennsylvania German custom dating back to the 18th century.

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