On February 2, 2026, Oregon Zoo's beaver Filbert predicted six more weeks of winter, continuing a popular tradition and highlighting beavers' ecological and conservation significance.

On February 2, 2026, Filbert, a beaver at the Oregon Zoo, predicted six more weeks of winter in a lighthearted tradition similar to Groundhog Day. Known as a "branch manager," Filbert has been accurate in more than half his predictions since 2020, including one that preceded a major snowstorm. The event highlights beavers’ ecological importance in wetland creation and habitat management. Filbert, born in 2011, has gained a large social media following and contributed to scientific research, including Oregon State University’s Beaver Genome Project. Once nearly extinct in the region due to overhunting and habitat loss, beavers have rebounded thanks to conservation efforts and are now classified as a species of least concern.