On Feb. 2, 2014, the Staten Island Zoo hosted its annual Groundhog Day celebration, which took an unexpected turn.

The revelation that the ceremonial groundhog dropped by New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio in February later died sparked outrage online — and hashtags such as #GroundhogGate. WSJ's Mara Gay ...

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio dropped a squirmy Staten Island Chuck during a Groundhog Day celebration at the Staten Island Zoo. The weather-predicting rodent forecasted six more weeks of winter.

If you're the groundhog-forecast believing ... has had his fair share of run-ins with New York's top brass. In 2009, Staten Island Chuck bit the then-mayor of New York City, Michael Bloomberg.