Manchester has been Chuckles-less since the death of Chuckles VII in early March, and the state has been without its own weather predicting groundhog since then as well.
But all that changed Friday when the Lutz Children's Museum, where iterations of Chuckles have made their home through the years, announced that it has selected a new official state groundhog - Connecticut Chuckles VIII.
Connecticut Chuckles VIII, a female, will be sworn in as the official Connecticut State Groundhog on Groundhog Day Feb. 2, 2013.
Museum officials said that, like all animals the Lutz Children's Museum cares for, Connecticut Chuckles VIII sustained a serious injury and can no longer care for herself. The Lutz Children's Museum accepts certain injured wildlife from licensed rehabilitators or veterinarians and provides them with a safe new home.