Portland, United States - February 03, 2025 Keep those jackets handy, Portlanders. Filbert the beaver, affectionately known as Stumptown Fil, has made his annual "furcast" at the Oregon Zoo, predicting another six weeks of winter. While February 2 is traditionally Groundhog Day, Filbert’s fans—and his dedicated care team—prefer their local, wetland-creating weather beaver. “We love groundhogs, but they aren’t native to the Pacific Northwest,” said Christina Parr, a keeper at the zoo. “Here in Oregon, we’re beaver believers.” Filbert didn’t face the cold alone this year. Blaze the Trail Cat and Douglas Fur, mascots for the Portland Trail Blazers, joined him for the big moment, cheering him on as he delivered his frosty forecast. The Blazers even launched a special promotion in his honor. Since his forecasting debut in 2020, Filbert’s accuracy has been hit-or-miss—right about half the time, according to Parr. But predicting the weather isn’t his only claim to fame. Filbert and his lodge-mate Maple have become social media sensations, earning the title of “branch managers” thanks to their impressive wood-gathering skills. Filbert’s resume doesn’t stop there. He’s starred in the “Beaver Branch Challenge” web series and even contributed to the Beaver Genome Project at Oregon State University in 2015. Once nearly wiped out due to fur trapping and habitat loss, beavers have made a strong comeback in Oregon. Today, they’re celebrated as icons of the Pacific Northwest—especially when it comes to predicting the weather.