Gov. Josh Shapiro Spars With PETA Over Call To Replace Punxsutawney Phil With Vegan Cake

LOADING ERROR LOADING Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro is openly tussling with animal rights group PETA, which is calling for Punxsutawney Phil — the famous marmot used in an annual Groundhog Day tradition to forecast the start of spring — to be replaced with a vegan cake. PETA head Ingrid Newkirk sent an open letter last month to Punxsutawney Groundhog Club president Tom Dunkel suggesting that this 139-year-old tradition come to an end — and offering to replace it with “a sweet new offer” that doesn’t “exploit” the furry woodchuck. Barry Reeger/Associated Press PETA assured Dunkel in the letter that these “Weather Reveal” cakes, in “a fun play on viral gender reveal videos,” would be provided to the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club free of charge — but only if Dunkel lets Phil and his offspring live in a protected wildlife reserve. PETA cheekily responded to Shapiro’s social media post Saturday, interpreting his words to mean that the animal rights group can “take” Phil to a sanctuary with his blessing.