After experiencing one of the harshest winters in recent history, the Teche Area eagerly awaits its oft-relied on predictor of whether or not brighter, balmy days or stifling heat lie ahead.

The Teche Area’s beloved nutria rat Pierre C. Shadeaux will be up bright and early Friday morning in Bouligny Plaza to let his shadow, or lack thereof, do the forecasting for yet another year. For those who want to see Pierre’s prediction in person you can swing by Bouligny Plaza at 7:30 a.m. Friday, rain or shine.

The Daily Iberian first introduced our answer to Punxsutawney Phil in 1997. Pierre C. Shadeaux had his day because there was no way a Yankee groundhog could forecast accurately for the heart of Cajun Country.

Simply, Phil has it backwards and can’t be relied on. If Phil sees his shadow, there are six more weeks of winter and, if he doesn’t, there will be an early spring.

As tradition would have it, if the  famed rodent Pierre C. Shadeaux sees his shadow, summer heat will come sooner than later, if he does not see his shadow, a long comfortable spring is in the forecast.

With a wilder than normal winter, Daily Iberian Publisher Christina Pierce said letters coming from  local students about Pierre. C. Shadeaux are sounding a bit different this year.  

“We have students write essays (on Pierre C. Shadeaux) and while they normally don’t want him to see his shadow, this year has been the flip opposite. They want him to see his shadow,” Pierce said Wednesday.

And, of course, with all the spotlight surrounding one key player in this early summer/late summer equation, workers at Zoosiana said Pierre is getting the star treatment. 

“He’s being prepped. He’s been the local celebrity for the area this time of year so he is eating good and looking good,” Lea Loftin, marketing events director for Zoosiana, Zoo of Acadiana, said Wednesday afternoon.