Q: Does seeing the sun on Groundhog...

Q: Does seeing the sun on Groundhog Day, Feb. 2, really influence whether the animals will hibernate for another six weeks?

A: No, said biologist Greg Florant of Colorado State University. Recent research by Florant indicates that it is the concentration of a fatty acid called linoleic acid in the rodent’s body that governs its hibernation. If levels of linoleic acid in their body is high, he found, the groundhogs will remain active, and perhaps even eat, during a period when they should be sleeping. The high levels of the fatty acid may indicate that the animals do not have enough food stored to continue hibernating through the rest of the winter.