RALEIGH, N.C. -- There were conflicting forecasts from the four-legged experts on whether North Carolina's winter weather will continue for six more weeks.

The state Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh sought the view of guest groundhog Sir Walter Wally on Monday. He was held up to the ear of Mayor Charles Meeker, who interpreted a prediction for a longer winter.

This year was the first for the underground oracle nicknamed Mortimer, who lives with an Orange County rescue group. Last year's veteran groundhog was retired.

But on the home turf of pork barbecue, a potbellied pig in Lexington named L'il Bit snorted a prediction translated as predicting an early spring. Lexington calls its event "GroundHawg's Day" for its porcine predictor.

Charlotte's groundhog, Queen Charlotte, predicted an early spring at 4:30 p.m.