Will winter keep biting? Ask Queen

Will she or won't she?

Or, to be more specific: Will the Charlotte Nature Museum's resident groundhog, Queen Charlotte, see her shadow this afternoon, or won't she? According to folklore, if she does, it means we're in for six more weeks of winter; if she doesn't, winter will end soon. (Although, quite frankly, has it really started yet??)

"Charlotte's only live groundhog shadow check" is set for 3 to 5 p.m. today at the museum, 1658 Sterling Road (adjacent to Freedom Park in the Myers Park/Dilworth area).

Queen Charlotte will be on hand to meet and greet visitors before checking for her shadow at precisely 4:30 p.m. She will be attended by her “court” – other animals that share traits or shelter with the groundhog – including the striped skunk [Mephitis mephitis], opossum [Didelphis virginiana] and Southern flying squirrel [Glaucomys volans]

Admission: $6 for ages 2 and older (kids younger than 2 and members are free).