The Groundhog Network isn’t happy.

For more than 100 years, many of those fearless forecasters and premium prognosticators have opined about whether the weather will continue as winter or blossom into an early, sunny spring.

On Sunday, all across the nation they’ll share their polished predictions with handlers hoping for good news.

Dunkirk Dave in New York, Buckeye Chuck in Marion, Ohio; Thistle the Whistlepig in Cleveland; Pierre C. Shadeaux in Louisiana and General Beauregard Lee in Georgia will all offer their best guesses on what’s ahead weather-wise.

In Kresgeville, Schnogadahl Sammi, with help from Groundhog Lodge No. 6, will whisper a prediction for the Poconos.

Down in Pine Grove, Grover the Groundhog and wife Sweet Arrow Sue will share their thoughts on the possibility of a sunny spring in Schuylkill County.

And in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch country in Central Pennsylvania, a bevy of these rotund members of the rodent family — stuffed or otherwise — will help celebrate an age-old tradition.

But this year, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals — PETA as it’s commonly known — is calling for the top dog of the groundhogs to be replaced with a cake.

On Jan. 21, the organization called for the retirement of Punxsutawney Phil so that he and partner Phyliss — and their children Sunny and Shadow who were born last year — could live in a reputable sanctuary instead of taking part in the annual event this weekend.

PETA has suggested a “weather reveal” cake replace the revelry. Once cut, the group says, the cake would show one of two colors: blue for six more weeks of winter or pink for an early spring.

The group, in a letter to the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club, made a punny plea to convey its concerns, writing that retiring Phil and replacing him with the cake “would allow you to still make tourism dough while showing Phil a slice of decency.”

It claimed that Groundhog Day is no piece of cake for Phil, explaining that groundhogs are “shy prey animals who, when allowed, actively avoid humans.”

The group said that against those instincts, Phil is whisked on stage at Gobbler’s Knob, subjected to a noisy announcer, screaming crowds and flashing lights “just to be a town’s once-a-year fake meteorologist.”

Last year, the group asked that Phil step aside in favor of a giant coin. In 2022, they proposed a persimmon tree to predict the weather.

Even earlier, PETA wanted Phil swapped out for an animatronic version that would be equipped with artificial intelligence capable of more accurately predicting the weather.

Phil, as the “Seer of Seers, Sage of Sages, Prognosticator of Prognosticators and Weather Prophet Extraordinary,” might take all that as an insult.

After all, in Punxsutawney, he lives in climate-controlled comfort in a specially-built habitat next to the town library. His handlers say he’s well cared for and that his health and well-being is a priority. Every fall, they say, he gets a special elixir that adds seven years to his life.

That’s a pretty good run for a legend that’s evolved from Candlemas in 350 A.D., when Christians had candles blessed as a way to bring good fortune to their houses for the rest of the winter.

Germans added to the tradition, introducing hedgehogs that would suggest a “Second Winter” if they saw their shadow on Candlemas Day.

When they journeyed to America, Germans found hedgehogs in short supply and switched to groundhogs, which were widely available.

These days, Phil helps fill hotels, gas stations and restaurants in and around Punxsutawney in the time around the celebration to the tune of $1 million. The average of the 25,000 or so visitors pumps about $200 each into the local economy.

He’s also the stuff that movies are made of.

Some 30 years ago, “Groundhog Day” starring Bill Murray and Andie McDowell cemented celebrating Phil’s predictions and pulled more people into Punxsutawney, expanding and perpetuating his legend.

On Sunday, Phil — at the top of his game — will do it again in spite of PETA’s pleas.

In his own quirky way, he’ll offer his insight into what’s ahead when he “speaks” with his handler.

Let’s hope his forecast is for an early spring and sunny skies ahead.

I wouldn’t be surprised if he had something to say to PETA, too.

Like his forecast, it’s pure speculation, but in a twist on something a Spanish princess said in the 1600s, it might be: “Let them eat cake.”

I wonder how that sounds in “groundhogese.”

ED SOCHA | tneditor@tnonline

The foregoing opinions do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editorial Board or Times News LLC.