Never mind the groundhog, a local wildlife rehabilitation centre says that some of its animals are showing signs that spring weather may be just around the corner.

"We've been keeping an eye out on the behaviour of the animals and even though we don't have a groundhog we have been seeing some positive signs," says Zoe Nakata, the Executive Director of Wildlife Haven Rehabilitation Centre in Ile des Chenes.

Each year Groundhog Day is February 2nd and the idea is that if the groundhog comes out of its hole and sees its shadow, there will be six more weeks of wintery weather. If he does not, it is said that spring will arrive early. For the record, Manitoba Merv did not see his shadow Tuesday morning.

"With some of our swan patients, they've been noticeably more active in the afternoons and hanging out by the big windows, and kind of itching to get outside," says Nakata. "So we take that as a pretty positive sign that nice weather is around the corner."

The centre takes in all sorts of animals throughout the year. However, when they take in migrating animals in the late fall, they have to stay until spring to make sure they have the best chance, like the pelicans and swans in their centre right now.

"We've got two beaver patients actually and they've been more and more active," she says.

While beavers are not known to hibernate, they often stay in the den for the most part, where they have stored up food for the cold months, which means they are not overly active.

"We take that as a little hint that maybe they have some of that groundhog instinct, so we're hopeful," she says.

While the animal kingdom offers signs of hope, the weather office seems skeptical. A spokesperson for Environment Canada maintains that a polar vortex is expected to hit the region later this week.