PETA Blasts Groundhog Stunt at Pirates Game, Calls on Team to Make Amends: ‘Phil Has Been Through Enough!’

For Immediate Release:
May 1, 2026

Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382

After beleaguered, captive groundhog Punxsutawney Phil was transported to the field at PNC Park yesterday to “throw out” the first pitch at a Pittsburgh Pirates game, PETA today sent a pointed letter to team President Travis Williams calling on the organization to find a way to make amends and publicly commit to never participating in Phil’s exploitation again.

In the letter, PETA founder Ingrid Newkirk urges Williams to dispel the dangerous notion that using a frightened, captive wild animal for entertainment is acceptable, and points out that, as a prey species, groundhogs naturally avoid humans and are frightened by large crowds and unfamiliar environments. Being waved around in the middle of a stadium of screaming fans was likely terrifying and stressful for Phil.

“Groundhogs belong in nature, not at a noisy ball game, and PETA is calling on the Pirates to commit to ensuring that Phil doesn’t have to endure Groundhog Day-like trauma at any Pirates game in the future,” says Newkirk. “Phil has been through enough, and PETA urges the team to keep live animals out of its events.”

PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to abuse in any way”—points out that when it comes to the ability to feel pain, hunger, and fear, a groundhog is a dog is a boy. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow PETA on X, Facebook, or Instagram.

PETA’s letter to Williams follows.

May 1, 2026

Travis Williams

President

Pittsburgh Pirates

Dear Mr. Williams:

I’m writing on behalf of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals—PETA entities have more than 10.4 million members and supporters globally, including over 250,000 in Pennsylvania and certainly many, many baseball fans—in response to absolutely shocking news that the team invited Punxsutawney Phil to “throw out” the first pitch at a series finale game against the St. Louis Cardinals. Perhaps the team does not realize somehow that this was a grotesque exploitation of a wild animal who suffers in captivity, is frightened of crowds and loud noises, did not know what was happening, had to be transported, and more. We implore you to consider the harmful impact this had on Phil as well as the terrible message it sent to fans about the abuse of captive wildlife and to reconsider before participating in Phil’s exploitation again. Please think of a way to make amends to dispel the idea that it’s acceptable to do this to a captive groundhog.

Phil is a member of a prey species, meaning naturally shy, sensitive animals who actively avoid humans if they can. Inviting his handlers to transport him to an unfamiliar location, wave him around in the air in front of a screaming crowd, and subject him to a loud announcer no doubt caused him distress and fear. Phil feels anxiety and discomfort just as humans do, and he was not a willing participant in this or any other gimmick. In the old days, before we knew anything much about wildlife, we might have thought this was entertaining. Today, we supposedly know better than to bring live animals to ballgames and support a group that treats wild animals like props.

Punxsutawney Phil has been subjected to enough already: He is held captive in a local library for tourists to stare at and dragged from place to place—rather than living in nature—which doesn’t allow him to do anything natural and important to him, including hibernating, digging, burrowing, foraging, smelling fresh air, choosing his companions, and simply living as the sentient being he is.

We hope you will no longer participate in the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club’s endless exploitation of live groundhogs and help ensure that Phil doesn’t have to endure Groundhog Day–like trauma at any Pirates games in the future. Thank you for your consideration of this matter. We look forward to hearing from you.

Very truly yours,

Ingrid Newkirk

Founder