Free Republic

New York's Staten Island Zoo attempted to cover up news that the groundhog accidentally dropped by Mayor Bill de Blasio during the Groundhog Day celebration died from internal injuries a week after the fall, The New York Post reported. Sources told the paper that the groundhog was a female replacement named "Charlotte." She died from internal injuries a week after the fall, the source said.

Mayor Bill de Blasio may not get a chance to kill any more groundhogs. The Staten Island Zoo is considering ditching its Groundhog Day policy that includes the mayor holding the winter-weather prognosticator following a Post report Thursday that “Chuck” — who was actually Charlotte — died from injuries suffered when she was dropped by Hizzoner.

Mayor de Blasio has groundhog blood on his hands! A week after Hizzoner dropped Staten Island Chuck in front of a crowd of spectators on Feb. 2, the winter-weather prognosticator died of internal injuries — and then the coverup began, The Post has learned. Staten Island Zoo officials went to great lengths to hide the death from the public and keep secret the fact that “Chuck” was actually “Charlotte,” a female imposter, sources said Wednesday. The stand-in was found dead in her enclosure at the Staten Island Zoo on Feb. 9 — and a necropsy determined she died from “acute...